With growing climate dangers associated with human consumption of fossil fuels, one local scientist insists it is now more important than ever to support research that advances the understanding of the value of the deep sea before running ahead to mine the area.

“Mining is destructive and non-renewable; resources would not be returned over millennia and in some cases never. So governments need to refuse to support the granting of licenses (for the exploitation of mineral resources from the deep sea) until there is more research into the effects of disturbing these areas as well as the potential value in terms of ecosystem services,” noted Professor Mona Webber, head of the Centre for Marine Sciences at The University of the West Indies (UWI) Mona.

Her comment comes in the wake of the recent meeting of the International Seabed Authority in Kingston, where consideration was given to the draft regulations on the exploitation of mineral resources.