ISA Granted Poland 1 Deep-Sea Vent Exploration Contract, Raising Risks to Lost City Ecosystem
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Jun 9
ISA Granted Poland 1 Deep-Sea Vent Exploration Contract, Raising Risks to Lost City Ecosystem
2 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Jun 9
Summary
Poland’s 2017 ISA exploration contract covers hydrothermal vents along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, including the Lost City vent field—one of the rarest known deep-sea ecosystems.
The push is tied to demand for metals used in batteries and microchips, with seabed mining advocates arguing deep-ocean resources could support the energy transition.
Hydrothermal vents host dense communities built on chemical energy rather than sunlight, and Lost City’s alkaline system is the only known vent field of its kind, making it especially valuable for science.
ISA has granted 31 exploration contracts in international waters, including 19 for manganese nodules, extending industrial interest across an area roughly the size of Alaska.
Scientists warn mining could erase ecosystems before they are properly studied; in one Pacific target zone, about 90% of recovered species were new to science.
Is mining the deep sea for green tech metals a necessary evil or an irreversible environmental catastrophe?
Could deep-sea vents hold the secret to life's origins, and are we about to destroy them for minerals?
With thousands of new species being discovered, will deep-sea mining destroy potential new medicines before we even find them?
Deep-Sea Mining vs. Conservation: The Lost City, Poland’s ISA Contract, and the Global Push for High Seas Protection
Overview
The Lost City hydrothermal field, a unique and scientifically invaluable site, is under immediate threat from deep-sea mining exploration contracts, including one held by Poland. Scientists have issued urgent warnings that such mining could destroy this underwater wonder, causing significant pollution and emissions. They stress the difference between scientific research and commercial exploration, emphasizing that the international seabed belongs to all humanity. The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the International Seabed Authority (ISA) regulate these activities, but concerns remain about the effectiveness of current protections and the potential for irreversible environmental damage.