standardization of environmental data and information - International ...

egion of discharge through elevated trace metal contamination. Indirect
impacts of mining activity on the micronekton may flow from changes in
primary and secondary production and/or in the size-frequency distribution
of their prey field. Heavy metal contamination of the food chain may lead to
bioaccumulation of toxins up the food chain.
1.5. Potential seabird and marine mammal impacts
The potential impacts of deep seabed mining include toxic effects of
bioaccumulation of heavy metals through the food chain and the potential
effects on feeding of altered prey availability / food-chain productivity. The
size distribution of prey fields, as well as their productivity, may be altered.
2. Standardized Environmental Impact Assessment
2.1. Monitoring objectives
Monitoring baselines are to be established for the following:
?? Bacterioplankton biomass and productivity throughout the water
column;
?? Phytoplankton biomass, composition and productivity;
?? Zooplankton composition and biomass throughout the water
column;
?? Micronekton composition and biomass throughout the water
column, and
?? Marine mammal abundance and, so far as possible, behaviour.
2.2. Overall survey design
Key issues in the overall design of a monitoring programme are the
spatial and temporal scales of variability. Although spatial gradients are
reduced in the open ocean, the size of the claim areas (150,000 square
kilometres) and their position (e.g. CCFZ being between the North Pacific
central gyre and eastern tropical Pacific / North Pacific Equatorial
Countercurrent region) suggest that there will potentially be significant
INTERNATIONAL SEABED AUTHORITY 401