All articles tagged with #clarion clipperton zone
A 1979 deep-sea mining experiment in the Pacific's Clarion-Clipperton Zone left lasting scars on the seafloor, with visible damage still evident 44 years later. While some small organisms are beginning to recolonize the area, the recovery of larger, stationary species is slow, raising concerns about the ecological impacts of future large-scale mining operations in this fragile ecosystem.
Researchers have discovered whimsical new marine life, including a bright pink 'Barbie pig' sea cucumber, near the Clarion-Clipperton Zone (CCZ) in the deep sea, which is targeted for seabed mining due to its rich metal reserves. The project aims to develop an ecological census of the region to assess potential impacts of mining activities. The discovery of these new species, such as the 'unicumber' sea pig and the 'Rattail fish,' highlights the need for further research to understand the unique and sparse ecosystem of the CCZ.