Source: The Narhwal
Author: Sonia Jind
Until recently, the largest ecosystem on earth has stayed mostly beyond human reach.
But a new chapter in resource extraction could open up Earth’s most remote places to industrial development.
Source: Creamer Media’s Mining Weekly
Author: Dylan Slater
Deep-sea mining is yet to become a major activity, and not much is known about undersea mineral deposits. However, some in the mining industry claim that the deep seafloor could be host to an abundant, untapped resource of highly sought-after commodities that may be relatively easy to access once machinery has been developed to operate under high pressures in submerged environments and salty water.
Continue reading Canada’s Nautilus aiming to start marine mining in 2019 despite enviro concerns
Source: Arctic Now
Author: Nunatsiaq News
Three new marine refuges off Nunavut’s coasts are intended to make “a lasting contribution to marine conservation in Canada” by forbidding the practice of bottom trawling or dragging by fishing boats, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans has announced.
Source: http://www.newswire.ca/
Canada identified a new ‘Area of Interest’ off its Pacific Coast, covering ~140,000 km2 and containing several seamounts and hydrothermal vent fields, for potential designation as an MPA by 2020.
Varadero, Cuba—The 38th Annual Meeting of the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) concluded today in Varadero, Cuba. This year, expectations were high that NAFO Contracting Parties would take further measures to protect elements of the marine ecosystem and vulnerable sharks and skates, and environmentalists at the Ecology Action Centre, who attended as the only civil society observers, are pleased to see that some of these measures will be moving forward.
Hope Spots are described by Mission Blue as “special places that are critical to the health of the ocean” and are particularly deserving of protection. The reefs were one of just 14 sites around the world chosen for this special recognition.
Continue reading British Columbia’s Glass Sponge Reefs Announced as Mission Blue Hope Spot
Source: CBC News
Author: Paul Withers
European scientists are at the Bedford Institute of Oceanography in Halifax this week studying deep-sea sponges recovered off the coast of Nova Scotia by the Canadian research ship Hudson.
Continue reading Scientists gather in Halifax to study deep-sea sponges
Source: Virgin Unite
Author: Susanna Fuller
I’m planning a trip to St. John’s, Newfoundland this week and while I’ve been there several times, this visit seems more important than others. It was in that city, a little over a decade ago, that I attended a meeting with a number of scientists and began to get substantively involved in efforts to protect areas of the high seas from the impacts of bottom trawling.
Continue reading Why We Must Act Now To Protect The Deep Sea From Destructive Bottom Trawling
Source: The Guardian
Author: Amanda Holpuch
North America is far from reaching national and international targets for protecting oceans, according to a first-of-its-kind report released on Wednesday.
Continue reading North America far off from ocean preservation targets, report finds
Source: Deep Sea Mining Campaign
LONDON | This morning, NGOs and civil society are outside the 5th Annual Deep Sea Mining Summit calling for a ban on a potentially environmentally destructive “frontier” industry. They are calling on the EU to stop funding such reckless development activities and are standing in solidarity with NGOs, churches and community across the Pacific.
Continue reading From the Pacific to London: Ban Seabed Mining
