Ridges brimming with life, plastic-loving corals and Nauru starts the mining countdown

The news that Nauru has triggered the two-year rule, allowing deep-sea mining to begin the in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone within two years regardless of the regulations in place at the time, has fired up the deep-sea community and the media this week. Responses to this announcement have been rounded up for ease in this week’s Round-Up, along with links to statements seeking signatories and plenty of popular articles. Furthermore, there are new studies with important implications for conservation management of deep-sea ecosystems targeted for mineral extraction, including seafloor massive sulphide deposits, hydrothermal systems and ferromanganese crusts.

The first Ocean Decade Laboratory kicks off next week, “An Inspiring and Engaging Ocean”, with plenty of satellite events taking place around it although it seems events are generally quietening down for the summer – finally, a break from Zoom fatigue perhaps? Enjoy it while it lasts!

And finally, news that the new Challenger 150 website is LIVE!

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