MANGANESE NODULES
29
Environmental management
objectives
3.1
A key issue at the outset, before any exploration or extraction
occurs, is the clear definition of environmental objectives that
will guide the management of any furture operations. These will
vary regionally and nationally, but are typically directed at two
broad goals:
• To maintain overall biodiversity and ecosystem health and
function; and
• To reduce, mitigate and, where possible, prevent adverse ef-
fects of mining and pollution that can affect wider habitats
and ecosystems.
A further key consideration is integrating environmental man-
agement strategies with other, related efforts and agreements
aimed at the conservation and sustainable use of the marine
environment. This includes national and regional initiatives, as
well as such global frameworks as the Convention on Biological
Diversity’s process to identify ecologically or biologically signif-
icant areas and the UN General Assembly Resolutions to protect
vulnerable marine ecosystems.
Sampling manganese nodules. Photo courtesy BGR.
