Potential Deep-Sea Mining Site Harbors Scores of New Species

Scientists discovered numerous new species while studying the environmental impact of deep-sea mining in the Pacific Ocean's Clarion-Clipperton Zone, where companies extracted over 3,300 tons of mineral-rich polymetallic nodules in 2022. Among 788 species identified through DNA analysis were previously unknown marine worms, crustaceans, and mollusks, highlighting how mining operations may eliminate undiscovered organisms before scientists can study them. The mining reduced animal populations by 37 percent and species diversity by 32 percent in affected areas.