MiningImpact3 is an international research project studying the environmental impacts of potential future deep-sea mining. It focuses on two deep-sea ecosystems rich in critical metals: polymetallic nodule fields in the Pacific Ocean and seafloor massive sulfides in the Atlantic, along with the overlying waters. The third project phase (hence the name ‘MiningImpact3’) addresses knowledge gaps related to environmental changes, biodiversity, and ecosystem functions across space and time. Researchers will also assess the long-term effects of test-mining conducted at polymetallic nodule fields in 2021. The findings will help develop tools for managing, regulating, and governing deep-sea mining.

The research led by Molenaar deals with ‘Fragmentation and polycentricity in the international governance of deep-sea mining in the North Atlantic’. International law and governance evolve in a gradual manner, with little attention to hierarchy, and highly decentralized. This evolution has led international law and governance to be characterized by the notions of ‘fragmentation’ and ‘polycentricity’. This reality also applies to the international governance of deep-sea mining. The research will focus on in particular on the North Atlantic and the following two topics:

1.    Area-based management tools (ABMTs) to protect deep sea habitats against the impacts of deep-sea mining, with special attention to the International Seabed Authority (ISA)’s regional environmental management plan (REMP) for the northern Mid Atlantic Ridge and ABMTs adopted by other international bodies for that area; and
2.    The relationship between the ISA’s regulation of deep-sea mining in the Area and coastal state regulation of deep-sea mining on their (outer) continental shelves, with special attention to Norway’s plans to commence deep-sea mining in the North-East Atlantic.
 

• dr. Tanja Stratmann

• The following external Principal Investigators participate in the Dutch Consortium as well: Sabine Gollner (Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ)); Rudy Helmons (Technical University Delft); Dick van Oevelen (NIOZ); Katja Peijnenburg (Naturalis); Willem Renema (Naturalis); and Henko de Stigter (NIOZ).

The key concerns underpinning the ANTARC-SHIP project are the growth and diversification of Antarctic tourism and the rather minimal extent of intergovernmental regulation of Antarctic tourism by the Antarctic Treaty System. The aim of the ANTARC-SHIP project is to examine to what extent, and how, environmental stewardship can be assessed, enhanced, and facilitated among the different actors and institutions involved in the operation and governance of Antarctic tourism.

The ANTARC-SHIP project consists of the following four work packages:

1. Antarctic tourism and science as interdependent operations: a comparative assessment of environmental impacts and stewardship practices;

2. The durability of self-regulated stewardship in the Antarctic tourism industry: dealing with internal and external challenges;

3. Custodians for the Antarctic: Assessing and managing Antarctic tourism impacts in the gateway cities; and

4. Stewardship through state and intergovernmental regulation of environmental impacts and risks of Antarctic shipborne tourism.

• dr. Andrey Todorov

• Dr. Machiel Lamers (WUR)
• Dr. Bas Amelung (WUR)
• Dr. Daniela Liggett (University of Canterbury)
• Dr. Emma Stewart (Lincoln University)

Antarctic tourism has significantly increased – both in visitor numbers and types of activities - and further increases are projected. Many of the 29 countries that jointly manage Antarctica are concerned that the 1991 Environmental Protocol and other regulations provide insufficient protection for nature, safety and science. This research program supports the Netherlands in proactive management of tourism within the Antarctic Treaty System (ATS) on four themes: (1) maximizing visitor numbers by a cap-and-trade system; (2) constraining diversification of activities by pre-assessment procedures; (3) improving domestic implementation of ATS tourism regulations; and (4) enhancing the role of non-use and non-user States.

• dr. Solène Guggisberg

• Prof. Kees Bastmeijer (UoG); Prof. Edward Huijbens (WUR); Dr. Bas Amelung (WUR); and Dr. Machiel Lamers (WUR)