Deep-sea mining poses new threat to sharks and rays
A new study warns that proposed deep-sea mining could endanger 30 species of sharks, rays, and chimaeras whose habitats overlap with mining zones. Nearly two-thirds of these species are already threatened with extinction from human impacts. Researchers from the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa highlight risks from seafloor disruptions and sediment plumes.
Researchers led by oceanographers from the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa have published a study in Current Biology revealing significant risks to marine life from deep-sea mining. The study, published in 2025, identifies overlaps between the habitats of 30 species of sharks, rays, and chimaeras—also known as ghost sharks—and areas allocated for mining by the International Seabed Authority.
These species include well-known ones like the whale shark and manta rays, as well as lesser-known deep-sea dwellers such as the pygmy shark, chocolate skate, and point-nosed chimaera. Nearly two-thirds are already threatened with extinction, primarily due to overfishing. The analysis overlaid global species range maps from the IUCN Shark Specialist Group with mining contract areas, accounting for reproduction and diving behaviors. For instance, species like skates and chimaeras lay eggs on the seafloor, making nurseries vulnerable to mining vehicles.
The team found that all 30 species could be affected by discharge plumes, while 25 face risks from direct seafloor disruptions. Mining impacts may overlap more than half the depth range of 17 species, given their mobility and deep-diving habits. The primary focus is the Clarion-Clipperton Zone, a vast abyssal plain stretching from waters around Hawai'i to the eastern Pacific Ocean.
"Deep-sea mining is a new potential threat to this group of animals which are both vital in the ocean ecosystem and to human culture and identity," said lead author Aaron Judah, an oceanography graduate student at UH Mānoa's School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology. Senior author Jeff Drazen, a professor of oceanography, added, "Sharks and their relatives are the second most threatened vertebrate group on the planet, mostly from overfishing. Because of their vulnerability, they should be considered in ongoing discussions of the environmental risks from deep-sea mining."
To mitigate impacts, the authors recommend establishing monitoring programs, including these species in environmental impact assessments, and creating protected areas. Judah noted that the high mobility of many species means effects could extend to ecosystems near Hawai'i. The study calls for better baseline assessments by mining contractors and the International Seabed Authority to support conservation.