ID: 1801
Presenting Author: Don Proebstel
Session: 537 - Mining Across Land, Sea, and Space: Understanding and Communicating Social Impacts
Status: pending
Social impacts to fisheries proved to be very limited due to the location of the project and limited international fishery activity and ecosystem services due to location.
Prizma conducted a Social impact Assessment of the NORI D deep sea mining project in the Eastern Pacific Clarion Clipperton Zone (CCZ). Nauru Ocean Resources Inc (NORI), a subsidiary of the The Metals Company, plans to develop a large resource of polymetallic nodules, containing nickel, manganese, cobalt, and copper. The Project is near the eastern limit of the CCZ, and uninhabited by human communities. The assessment identified no Affected Communities, as per IFC Performance Standards. Fifteen key impact receptors identified in scoping and regulatory framework were evaluated for significance, magnitude, sensitivity, impact, uncertainty and need for mitigation. Key issues from fifteen receptors evaluated included health and safety (H&S), fisheries and ecosystem services. The H&S risks identified were generally well understood and mitigated and managed through commonly used policies, systems, plans, protective equipment and training. The evaluation of the risks and impacts to fisheries and ecosystem services required a clear understanding of the complex deep sea ocean ecosystem including the epipelagic, mesopelagic and abyssal benthic zones; in addition to historical fisheries capture data. Ecosystem data was provided by several international research institutions led by Australia’s National Science Agency and fishery data came from the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission. A Cumulative Impact Assessment was included using standard IFC procedure. Social impacts to fisheries proved to be very limited due to the location of the project and limited international fishery act
Don’s academic training includes a PhD conservation biology. He is a a MAC-TSM Verified certification provider and a GRI-certified sustainability reporter, and is based in Hawaii, USA.