Sea-floor animals decrease nearly 40% in deep-sea mining zone: study

London: The number of sea floor animals fell by 37 percent in a deep sea mining exploration zone, according to a study published Friday probing the em...

London: The number of sea-floor animals fell by 37 percent in a deep-sea mining exploration zone, according to a study published Friday probing the emerging industry's impact on biodiversity.

The five-year research is believed to be the most extensive yet on the possible consequences of modern commercial deep-sea mining machines on oceans already threatened by pollution and overfishing.

The industry plumbs previously untouched seabeds for commodities including nickel, cobalt and copper, which are used in everything from rechargeable batteries to military technology.

Deep-sea habitats also play a crucial role in the climate system.

Scientists from the UK's Natural History Museum (NHM), National Oceanography Centre, and Sweden's University of Gothenburg took baseline data on wildlife in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone (CCZ) -- an area of the Pacific Ocean that has been targeted for mining.