standardization of environmental data and information - International ...

affect seabirds and marine mammals, which could be even more subject to
the toxic effects of bioaccumulation of metals.
Dr. Koslow outlined various sampling procedures that could be used
to assess these potential impacts, ranging from carbon and nitrogen
measurements to observation of whales. He urged the adoption of
standard protocols developed by international bodies, notably those
devised for the Joint Global Ocean Flux Study (JGOFS) and by the
International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) and the
International Whaling Commission (IWC). He stated that the seasonal
variability of the Central Pacific would make it necessary to conduct up to
four cruises a year in order to obtain complete data.
Some participants questioned whether the volume of water
discharged by a mining operation would have a significant impact in the
vast ocean. It was observed, however, that a surface discharge would be
visible from a satellite, so that the public would know of it. Several
speakers said they assumed that the discharge would occur at around
1000 metres or more below the surface, though Koslow pointed out that
nothing was known about that zone or about possible impacts. Smith
favoured a release about 10 m above the bottom, near the area that would
already have been disturbed by mining.
The view was expressed that data gathering and interpretation
should focus more narrowly on factors that affected the food chain and
other possible impacts from mining. Increase in knowledge was an
objective of humankind, while evaluating impact was an objective of a
company or the International Seabed Authority. Koslow responded that,
with so many groups doing research in the few ocean areas of interest to
potential miners, research efforts might be pooled so that it would be
unnecessary for everyone to do everything. He added that, judging from
their presentations to the Workshop, the companies already seemed to be
doing most of the measurements he had described.
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