Study: 62% of Deep-Sea Vent Molluscs Threatened by Mining
A new study reveals that 62% of molluscs endemic to deep-sea hydrothermal vents are now at risk of extinction due to deep-sea mining. The International Seabed Authority (ISA) is currently negotiating regulations for this activity.
A scientific warning from the ocean's depths indicates that 62% of the world's endemic hydrothermal vent molluscs are now at risk of extinction, driven by the threat of deep-sea mineral exploration and potential exploitation. The assessment, based on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, adds 17 new species to over 180 already evaluated vent-endemic mollusc species.
These creatures inhabit depths of approximately 5,000 meters, thriving around geothermal vents spewing superheated water. These ecosystems are unique and extremely fragile. Scientists emphasize that these 17 newly assessed molluscs represent only a fraction of the life at risk, belonging to just one group of animals across one of the three major deep-sea ecosystems targeted for industrial mining.
For instance, the deep-sea snail Lirapex felix has been classified as 'Critically Endangered' due to mineral exploration in the Indian Ocean. In contrast, the snail Provanna exquisita, found within the Mariana Arc of Fire National Wildlife Refuge, was assessed as 'Least Concern' because its habitat is protected from mining.
The Senckenberg Ocean Species Alliance (SOSA) and the Marine Invertebrates Red List Authority (MIRLA) are working to assess over 500 endemic species found at these vents. Their goal is to gather data necessary to inform decisions regarding deep-sea mining. Senckenberg researchers are currently in Jamaica at the International Seabed Authority (ISA) meeting to convey this message to policymakers.