In 2020, Japan performed the first successful test extracting cobalt crusts from the top of deep-sea mountains to mine cobalt – a mineral used in electric vehicle batteries. An investigation on the environmental impact of this first test reports a decrease in ocean animals both in and around the mining zone.
This is a companion discussion topic for the original entry at https://www.sciencemediacentre.co.nz/2023/07/18/deep-sea-mining-test-may-have-had-lasting-impacts-expert-reaction/