Browsing by Author "Sarrazin, J."
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- Application of scientific criteria for identifying hydrothermal ecosystems in need of protectionPublication . Gollner, S.; Colaço, A.; Gebruk, A.; Halpin, P. N.; Higgs, N.; Menini, E.; Mestre, Nélia; Qian, P. Y.; Sarrazin, J.; Szafranski, K.; Van Dover, C. L.Deep-sea hydrothermal vent fields are globally rare (abundant in numbers, but extremely small in area) and are rich in extraordinary life based on chemosynthesis rather than photosynthesis. Vent fields are also sources of polymetallic sulfides rich in copper and other metals. Mineral resources of the international seabed beyond national jurisdictions (referred to as the “Area”) are administered by the International Seabed Authority (ISA), which has the mandate to organize and control mineral resource-related activities and to ensure effective protection of the marine environment from harmful effects which may arise from such activities. To date, the ISA has approved 3 contracts for mineral exploration on the northern Mid-Atlantic Ridge (nMAR) and is developing a Regional Environmental Management Plan (REMPs) for polymetallic sulfide resources in the Area of northern MAR, including the application of area-based management tools to address the potential impacts of mining activities. Several intergovernmental organizations have developed suites of criteria to identify vulnerable, sensitive, and ecologically or biologically significant ecosystems in need of protection. In this case study, we combine criteria developed by FAO for VMEs (Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems), by CBD for EBSAs (Ecologically or Biologically Significant Areas), and by IMO for PSSAs (Particularly Sensitive Sea Areas) to assess whether the 11 confirmed vent fields on the nMAR may meet these criteria. Our assessment indicates that all vent fields meet multiple criteria for vulnerability, sensitivity, and ecological or biological significance, and 10 of 11 vent fields meet all criteria for ecosystems in need of protection.
- Momareto: a cruise dedicated to the spatio-temporal dynamics and the adaptations of hydrothermal vent fauna on the Mid-Atlantic RidgePublication . Sarrazin, J.; Sarradin, P. M.; Gavaia, Paulo J.; Zal, F.The Mid Atlantic Ridge (MAR), located close to the Azores Truple Junction (ATJ), has beene extensively studied over the past 15 years. Over ten cruises were conducted in the area, leading to the discovery of three major vent fields - Menez Gwen, Lucky Strike and Rainbow -, located on three segments of the south-eastern limb of the ATJ (Ondréas et al. 1997).
- Research is needed to inform environmental management of hydrothermally inactive and extinct polymetallic sulfide (PMS) depositsPublication . Van Dover, C.L.; Colaço, A.; Collins, P.C.; Croot, P.; Metaxas, A.; Murton, B.J.; Swaddling, A.; Boschen-Rose, R.E.; Carlsson, J.; Cuyvers, L.; Fukushima, T.; Gartman, A.; Kennedy, R.; Kriete, C.; Mestre, Nélia; Molodtsova, T.; Myhrvold, A.; Pelleter, E.; Popoola, S.O.; Qian, P.-Y.; Sarrazin, J.; Sharma, R.; Suh, Y.J.; Sylvan, J.B.; Tao, C.; Tomczak, M.; Vermilye, J.Polymetallic sulfide (PMS) deposits produced at hydrothermal vents in the deep sea are of potential interest to miners. Hydrothermally active sulfide ecosystems are valued for the extraordinary chemosynthetic communities that they support. Many countries, including Canada, Portugal, and the United States, protect vent ecosystems in their Exclusive Economic Zones. When hydrothermal activity ceases temporarily (dormancy) or permanently (extinction), the habitat and associated ecosystem change dramatically. Until recently, so-called "inactive sulfide" habitats, either dormant or extinct, received little attention from biologists. However, the need for environmental management of deep-sea mining places new imperatives for building scientific understanding of the structure and function of inactive PMS deposits. This paper calls for actions of the scientific community and the emergent seabed mining industry to i) undertake fundamental ecological descriptions and study of ecosystem functions and services associated with hydrothermally inactive PMS deposits, ii) evaluate potential environmental risks to ecosystems of inactive PMS deposits through research, and iii) identify environmental management needs that may enable mining of inactive PMS deposits. Mining of some extinct PMS deposits may have reduced environmental risk compared to other seabed mining activities, but this must be validated through scientific research on a case-by-case basis.