第2904期:Deep sea mining could pose wildlife risk

At the heart of the deep-sea mining controversy is a difficult problem. The world needs critical minerals to tackle climate change but extracting them from the sea floor could cause serious environmental harm. This research by the Natural History Museum and National Oceanography Centre analysed the impact of trial mining in the Pacific Ocean. It found that where the mining vehicle had harvested minerals, the number of animals living in the area was reduced by 37%.

在对深海采矿的争议的核心有一个难以回答的问题。世界需要关键的矿物来应对气候变化，但从海底提取这些矿物会造成严重的环境损害。这项由伦敦自然史博物馆和英国国家海洋学中心共同参与的研究分析了在太平洋中试验性采矿的影响。研究发现，在采矿车辆采集了矿物的区域，在此生活的动物的数量减少了 37%。

The deep ocean is barely explored, and many scientists worry it harbours vital life that could be lost if mining goes ahead. The mining firm The Metals Company commissioned the research. A spokesperson said they were encouraged by findings that animals outside of the directly mined areas were not affected.

海洋深处几乎没有被人类探索过，许多科学家担心深海中藏有重要的生物，而如果开始采矿，这些生物就会消失。采矿公司加拿大金属公司（The Metals Company）委托进行了这项研究。该公司的一位发言人说，金属公司对研究结果感到鼓舞，因为研究发现在直接开采区域外的动物并未受到影响。