New research warns that an emerging industrial frontier—deep-sea mining—could place already vulnerable shark, ray, and ghost shark species in even greater peril. Scientists at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa have revealed that 30 species of these animals live in areas directly overlapping with proposed mining zones. Many of them are already classified as threatened, and the disturbance caused by mining machinery and sediment plumes could accelerate their decline.
For decades, sharks and their relatives have been under pressure from overfishing, habitat loss, and climate-driven changes in the oceans. Now, the push to extract minerals from the seafloor for use in renewable energy, electric vehicles, and electronics introduces a new and largely unmeasured hazard. The findings, published in Current Biology, show the stakes are high—not only for marine biodiversity but also for coastal communities and global ecosystems that rely on healthy shark populations.
Mapping Overlap Between Species and Mining Zones
To assess the risks, researchers combined global distribution maps of sharks, rays, and chimaeras created by the IUCN Shark Specialist Group with contract areas designated by the International Seabed Authority (ISA). The ISA has issued exploration contracts covering vast stretches of the Pacific Ocean floor, including the Clarion-Clipperton Zone (CCZ), which spans millions of square kilometers between Hawaiʻi and Mexico.
The team, led by graduate student Aaron Judah, examined how species ranges align with these proposed mining areas. They also considered species-specific traits such as depth ranges, reproductive strategies, and mobility. For instance, skates and ghost sharks that lay eggs on the seafloor are particularly vulnerable, since mining vehicles could destroy egg nurseries directly.
The results were stark: 30 species may be exposed to mining sediment plumes that can spread for hundreds of kilometers. Twenty-five of these face additional risks from physical seafloor disruption. For 17 species, mining could overlap with more than half of their known depth ranges.
From Gentle Giants to Ghostly Hunters
Among the at-risk species are both famous and little-known creatures. The whale shark, the world’s largest fish and an icon of ecotourism, inhabits parts of the CCZ. Manta rays, already threatened by bycatch and demand for their gill plates, could face new pressures. The megamouth shark, a rare deep-sea filter feeder, also overlaps with proposed zones.
Equally concerning are the lesser-known species: the pygmy shark, one of the smallest shark species on Earth; the chocolate skate; and the point-nosed chimaera, a member of the enigmatic “ghost sharks.” While they lack the celebrity of whale sharks or manta rays, these species play crucial ecological roles in deep-sea food webs. Their loss would ripple across marine ecosystems.
Mining Methods and Ecological Fallout
Deep-sea mining typically targets polymetallic nodules—potato-sized rocks rich in cobalt, nickel, manganese, and rare earth elements. Harvesting them involves sending massive robotic collectors to scrape or suction the seafloor, creating scars that can persist for centuries.
The ecological fallout is twofold. First, the direct destruction of benthic habitats eliminates critical breeding and feeding grounds. Second, sediment plumes stirred up by mining can smother organisms, disrupt filter feeders, and reduce visibility, impairing species that rely on sight to hunt. In the deep sea, where food and light are scarce, even small disturbances can have outsized impacts.
Oceanographer Jeff Drazen, a co-author of the study, emphasized the urgency: “Sharks and their relatives are already the second most threatened vertebrate group on the planet, mostly from overfishing. Adding the pressures of deep-sea mining could tip the balance for species already hanging by a thread.”
Global Stakes and Local Consequences
The CCZ alone is estimated to contain more than 21 billion metric tons of polymetallic nodules, a treasure trove for the renewable energy transition. Governments and corporations argue these minerals are essential for scaling up electric vehicles, solar panels, and wind turbines.
Yet the economic promise masks ecological trade-offs. Many shark species identified in the study are highly mobile, traveling across vast oceanic corridors. Impacts in the CCZ could ripple toward ecosystems near Hawaiʻi, Mexico, and other Pacific islands. For communities that depend on sharks for cultural heritage, tourism, or fisheries stability, these changes could be profound.
The study highlights a sobering contradiction: the green energy revolution, designed to reduce planetary harm, risks undermining ocean ecosystems if poorly managed.
Pathways for Conservation
The researchers propose several practical steps to mitigate harm. First, baseline monitoring programs must be established before mining begins, ensuring species’ health and ranges are tracked. Second, sharks and rays should be explicitly included in environmental impact assessments conducted by contractors and regulators. Third, marine protected areas should be carved out of mining zones, safeguarding critical habitats.
The ISA, responsible for governing seabed resources in international waters, faces mounting pressure to integrate biodiversity safeguards into its mining code. Environmental groups argue that precaution should guide policy—if the risks remain poorly understood, large-scale mining should not proceed.
Contractors also have a role. By funding independent research and adopting less intrusive technologies, companies could reduce their ecological footprint. Yet, without binding rules, voluntary measures may fall short.
Lessons From Overfishing
The plight of sharks in relation to deep-sea mining mirrors lessons from overfishing. Since 1970, global populations of sharks, rays, and chimaeras have declined by more than 50% due to industrial fishing. Despite widespread recognition of their importance, protective measures often came too late, leaving many species critically endangered.
Today, deep-sea mining stands at a similar crossroads. Without preemptive safeguards, the mistakes of fisheries management could be repeated, only this time in some of Earth’s least understood ecosystems.
Science, Policy, and the Future
For Judah and his colleagues, the next step is expanding the dataset to include species ranges not covered in the initial assessment. “Every month, new records of deep-sea species are discovered,” Judah noted. “As we fill in these gaps, the number of species at risk from mining may grow.”
The study underscores a broader reality: decisions made in boardrooms and at international negotiations will shape life thousands of meters below the surface. Once ecosystems are disturbed at those depths, recovery could take millennia—if it happens at all.
With shark populations already weakened by human activity, the margin for error is razor-thin. The challenge is clear: balance the demand for minerals with the imperative to protect one of Earth’s most fragile frontiers.
Actionable Insights for Stakeholders
- Policymakers should mandate inclusion of sharks, rays, and ghost sharks in all environmental assessments for mining.
- Regulators at the ISA must enforce precautionary pauses on large-scale operations until independent ecological baselines are established.
- Researchers should prioritize mapping species distributions in unexplored regions to avoid blind spots in conservation planning.
- Mining companies need to invest in low-impact technologies and collaborate transparently with scientists.
- Civil society can advocate for responsible sourcing, ensuring that the rush for green minerals does not create new environmental crises.
A Hidden Frontier at a Crossroads
From gentle giants like whale sharks to ghostly hunters in the abyss, these species represent both evolutionary marvels and cultural touchstones. Their survival hinges not only on ocean dynamics but also on human decisions made far above the waves.
Deep-sea mining promises wealth in metals but could exact a cost measured in lost species and disrupted ecosystems. The choice is not between progress and conservation—it is whether progress can be achieved without undermining the very systems that sustain life.
As Judah concluded, “By identifying this risk now, we have the opportunity to act before the damage is irreversible. It’s rare that science gives us such a clear warning before the fact. The question is whether we choose to listen.”
