Use of an Adaptive Management System to Minimize Impacts of Deep-Sea Nodule Collection

In the nascent deep-sea mining industry, there is currently a high degree of uncertainty about what impacts prolonged metal extraction will have on the receiving environment. There is also concern regarding the transparency and monitoring of operations since the target environment is extremely remote and inaccessible. Polymetallic nodule collection is being pursued, which is distinct from other forms of deep-sea mining in that the resource is distributed in a thin layer atop the seabed, unlike cobalt-rich crusts or massive sulfides, which are concentrated in specific areas. The second distribution of nodules provides opportunities for dynamic mine planning not available for other mineral sources as many constraints normally affecting mining operations like waste stripping or underground development are absent. Also, the highly mobile ship-based collection system that utilizes robotic collectors is easily relocated to other areas in response to emerging data on environmental constraints such as proximity to fragile habitats, sensitive species, or high cumulative impacts. An adaptive management system has been identified as a vital strategy to address scientific uncertainty of ecological impacts of deep-sea mining. The design features dynamic mine planning, scenario modeling, and impact forecasting. Also, operating data will be transparently viewable in a publicly available dashboard. This paper describes an implementation of a threshold-based framework for an effective adaptive management system designed to leverage the unique characteristics inherent to the resource.