In the quiet, dark depths of the Pacific Ocean, sperm whales sing haunting songs that travel for miles through the water. But those songs may soon be drowned out—not by nature, but by machines.
New research warns that deep-sea mining in one of the most remote parts of the ocean could have dangerous consequences for marine life, including whales and dolphins that rely heavily on sound to communicate, navigate, and survive.
The Clarion-Clipperton Zone (CCZ), located between Hawaii and Mexico, is a massive area of deep seabed covering nearly six million square kilometers. It’s a place few humans will ever see—but it’s attracting attention for what lies beneath: polymetallic nodules rich in valuable metals like cobalt, nickel, and manganese.
These metals are essential for making electric car batteries and other green tech. But extracting them could come at a big cost.
A Canadian company, The Metals Company, is already planning to explore mining options in the CCZ. And that has scientists deeply worried.
You might think a place that dark and cold wouldn’t have much life. But you’d be wrong.
A new survey carried out by researchers aboard the Greenpeace ship Arctic Sunrise found that the CCZ is far from silent. Over just 13 days, scientists recorded 74 underwater sound events and spotted six groups of whales and dolphins, including sperm whales, common dolphins, and Risso’s dolphins; 70 other dolphin groups were heard but not identified by species.
“We know remarkably little about these ecosystems, which are hundreds of miles offshore and include very deep waters,” said Dr. Kirsten Young of the University of Exeter. “We do know many species here are long-lived and slow-growing, especially on the seabed. It’s very hard to predict how seabed mining might affect these species and wider ecosystems.”
One of the major concerns? Sound.
Machines used in deep-sea mining don’t just dig silently. They produce a constant hum of industrial noise that can travel hundreds of kilometers underwater, thanks to a natural underwater sound highway called the SOFAR channel.
That noise doesn’t stay in one place—it echoes through the ocean, affecting species far from the actual mining site.
“Many species are highly sensitive to certain frequencies—chronic ocean noise can mask social and foraging communications, and whales could be displaced from critical habitats,” said Dr. Youngn.
Sperm whales, in particular, use sound to locate food, talk to one another, and keep their pods together. If that sound is blocked or distorted, it could mean confusion, hunger, or worse, separation from their young.
In another study, researchers also found that noise pollution might stress out other deep-sea animals, like soniferous fish (fish that use sound to communicate). These fish are a vital part of the food chain, and if they’re affected, the entire ecosystem could feel the ripple.
It’s not just the noise. The mining process kicks up huge clouds of sediment from the seafloor. These murky plumes can drift for long distances, possibly disrupting the feeding habits of filter feeders and blocking the light that some organisms depend on.
It means that the presence of whales, including endangered sperm whales, in regions targeted for deep-sea mining should be taken as a serious warning. Hence, starting commercial mining in these areas would be extremely risky and should not be allowed.
Scientists agree that we still know very little about life in the deep sea, and early signs suggest it’s full of unique and sensitive creatures. They stress the need for caution because once mining begins—bringing noise and stirring up sediment—the damage might be irreversible.
Dr. Young highlighted that it’s critical to evaluate these risks carefully before any mining goes forward.
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