Reports
The Deep Sea Mining (DSM) campaign has published two reports. Our first report Out of our Depth: Mining the Ocean Floor in Papau New Guinea provides an overview of DSM in general and the Nautilus Solwara 1 project in particular. This report raises significant concerns about gaps in the Solwara 1 EIS and the many risks that remain to be identified and assessed.
Our second report is a more detailed review of the physical oceanographic elements of the Nautilus Solwara 1 EIS. We chose to look at these aspects due to their critical importance to level of risk that coastal communities and marine ecosystems will be exposed to. This review finds that the oceanographic aspects of the EIS suffer from a lack of rigour. There are many errors and omissions in the modelling, presentation and analysis of data. As a result the EIS seriously downplays the risks facing local communities and the marine environment.
Physical Oceanographic Assessment of the Nautilus Environmental Impact Statement for the Solwara 1 Project – An Independent Review
November 6, 2012 | Prepared for the Deep Sea Mining Campaign (affiliated with Friends of the Earth Australia) by John L Luick, PhD, Austides Consulting, Adelaide, Australia
MEDIA RELEASE: Oceanographic assessment blows Nautilus out of the water
Authored by oceanographic expert, Dr. John Luick, the report reviews the oceanographic elements of the Nautilus Solwara 1 Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). Its focus is on currents and upwelling that may bring pollutants into contact with local populations and marine species. At only 30km away New Ireland is especially at risk, with the possibility of upwelling and currents carrying mine-derived metals towards its coastline. The report find that finds that the EIS seriously downplays the risks facing local communities and the marine environment.
“The modeling is completely unacceptable by scientific standards … The EIS fails to provide the basic information needed to assess the risk of pollution of the environment or the risk to local communities … The People of PNG deserve better. They should be able to feel confident that the approvals process is open and based on the best available science.” – Dr John Luick
(1.8mb) For higher res version of the report please contact natalie.lowrey[at]gmail.com Physical Oceanographic Assessment of the Nautilus Environmental Impact Statement for the Solwara 1 Project …
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Out of Our Depth: Mining the Ocean Floor in Papua New Guinea
November 24, 2011 | Dr. Helen Rosenbaum, Deep Sea Mining Campaign
MEDIA RELEASE: Report details unacceptable impacts from deep sea mining by Canada’s Nautilus
Summary
The report further details serious environmental and social impacts expected as a result of unprecedented mining of the ocean floor in PNG. It highlights the deep flaws in Nautilus Minerals EIS like the insufficient testing by the company in the toxicity of its process on vent species, and has not sufficiently considered toxic effects on organisms in the marine food chain.
(2mb) For higher res version of the report please contact natalie.lowrey[at]gmail.com Out of Our Depth: Mining the Ocean Floor in Papua New Guinea
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Independent Review of the Environmental Impact Statement for the proposed Nautilus Minerals Solwara 1 Seabed Mining Project, Papua New Guinea
January 10, 2009 | Professor Richard Steiner
Summary
This report details that it would be likely that Nautilus Solwara 1 deep sea mining project would result in severe, prolonged, and perhaps region-wide impacts to a globally rare and poorly understood biological community, and it is clear that the Nautilus EIS does not adequately assess many of these impacts. Furthermore the report makes note that the benefits to local people or the economy of PNG seem disproportionately low compared to the scale and risk of the project.
Read Professor Steiner’s Executive Summary
[...] the plan is potentially dangerous for fisheries, islanders and ecosystems. In a 32-page report, “Out of Our Depth,” an international group of environmentalists that calls itself the Deep Sea Mining Campaign [...]
Please keep us informed
Hi Don, we would be happy to keep you informed. We have added you to our monthly updates elist.
[...] the many potential losers in this race could be environmental concerns. There are many unique and understudied species found in the deep ocean vents. If not done [...]
[...] DSM campaign has compiled a report, co-authored by a professor of zoology from University of Oxford, which warns that underwater [...]
More concern should be given to oil and gas development as these are known polluters of our waters. Seabed mining is not in the same category but seems oil and gas industry likes the deflection to nautilus so they can conduct business as usual. Petromin can continue to steal funds destined to PNG residents.
Hi Wasi, we very much agree that oil and gas are very important issues. There are people working very hard on oil and gas issues in PNG and internationally. The Deep Sea Mining campaign is focused only on the mining of seabeds which is a new frontier industry. With any luck we can hold this industry off all together!
[...] DSM campaign has compiled a report, co-authored by a professor of zoology from University of Oxford, which warns that underwater [...]
[...] DSM campaign has compiled a report, co-authored by a professor of zoology from University of Oxford, which warns that underwater [...]
[...] DSM campaign has compiled a report, co-authored by a professor of zoology from University of Oxford, which warns that underwater [...]
[...] DSM campaign has compiled a report, co-authored by a professor of zoology from University of Oxford, which warns that underwater [...]
[...] DSM compiled their own report, spearheaded by a zoology professor from University of Oxford, which claims that deep sea mining [...]
Interesting how groups are attacking mining, seabed or land as someones clever ploy to deflect attention away from GSO's such as Petromin who have squandered the wealth of the nations resources. When all you have as a nation is resources, the people should demand a true accounting/control of the revenue stream for benefit of the peoples of PNG. Seems to me this is where the emphasis should be for the peoples of PNG! Wake up peoples of PNG and demand fiscal scrutiny of Petromin and true accounting of the revenues your resources generate for improvement in PNG quality of life!!!
Wasl Agree with you. People are being stooged here, they don't understand the corruption in PNG and how these matters are promoted to distract people from the real matters. I read the "Out of our Depth" report several times. The only people who are out of their depth are its writers.
Erica, we would be very interested to know what you consider the real matters in PNG to be. Is not severe environmental destruction, and in many cases, human rights abuses by foreign corporations on local PNG communities an issue? Only a small few Papua New Guineans are receiving the benefits from mining in PNG whilst most of the money from the country's natural resources are lining the pockets of foreign interests, you don't see this as an issue? Maybe you should be directing your comments to the thousands of Papua New Guineans now opposing Nautilus Minerals Solwara 1 deep sea mining project, a project many in PNG and internationally consider to be an experiment that will be at the expense of the environment and local communities lives and livelihoods. We would also be interested for you to critique why exactly the writers of the "Out of Our Depth" report are out of their depth. The report has been recognosed by scientists and internationally in such media outlets as the New York Times and The Guardian. We are always open to feedback on the report.
[...] Deep Sea Mining campaign has put out a report highlighting the risks of deep sea mining, especially the threats to the unique ecology of [...]
[...] de la contaminación de la minería en aguas profundas no se comprenden bien,” de acuerdo con Deep Sea Mining Campaign , un grupo dedicado a detener la explotación minera experimental en el Pacífico. “No es [...]
As someone from a province sharing the same sea boundaries with other provinces in the country, I think the DSM is not in the best interest of many local people as has been talked about in the media. The Solwara 1 project has not gone through/involve the process of free, prior and informed consent which should include both the direct and the indirect impact areas. Moreover, much of our food sources contained could be in danger. Now are we only think about the wealth of the nation or the many lives that depend
Suppose that Nautilus is stopped from mining in the Bismark sea. They are a small player apparently trying to minimise environmental impacts however they are being watched by the mining and oil/gas industries. If they replaced Nautilus they would play hard ball. Is it not better to negotiate with a small company to do better (and work with them to build a proper framework) than whitness a tide of corruption from government and the big boys a few years down the line?
Point of view; I live in New Ireland, I grew Up in New Ireland, I got married in New Ireland, I have children in NEw IReland. THe sea and the Land are my providers. I don't need Nautilus in my area, all I need is that my children have the same things in life that I had when i was their age. I understand the need to question the accountablity of Petromin, but at present my concern, is that this seabed mining does not go ahead. What guarantee will Nautilus give the People Of New Ireland Province that Environmental impacts are minimum? Sorry after what i read in this report, there is no way I will ever believe that proper procedures were taken to get that licence. Oh and by the way, the Solwara 1 project is in New Ireland Province waters, off the westcoast.
It is economically unsound and importantly environmentally uncertain (risky) to operate such a project. With current expert advice abroad and from local intellects opposing the venture, it is just not feasible to pursue this project. There is too much opposition and that should be ample indication as to the general viability of the project. It should not just be considered from a single view (traditionally the economic aspects and 'purpotedly' developments) but rather a holistic approach and if the majority is veered towards a 'not good project' then that must be respected. The days of 'bulldozing' are gone and now should be the voice of the majority and most importantly the people (the ones who will be affected after the project/mine is long gone). ..leave pasifika alone!
[...] A new report finds that the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIS) for Nautilus Mineral’s Solwara 1 deep sea mining project seriously downplays the risks facing local communities and the marine environment. [...]
[...] Deep Sea Mining campaign launches new report that blows Nautilus out of the [...]
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[...] http://www.deepseaminingoutofourdepth.org/report/ [...]