The ecosystem-based management framework
Report: Ecosystem-based management framework for polymetallic nodule collection activities
- A step-by-step framework has been developed to guide ecosystem-based management of deep-sea mining in data-poor and high-uncertainty environments like the Clarion Clipperton Zone.
- Risk and uncertainty are central to the framework, with tools designed to adapt as more data becomes available through monitoring.
- Stakeholder engagement is essential throughout the process to ensure transparency, trust, and relevance of management decisions.
Ecosystem-based management seeks the sustainable use of natural resources through taking a systems perspective on the use of ecological resources and human activities. This means considering how things are connected and influence each other. For example, by considering integration of the physical and biological components of an ecological system with the activities and well-being of humans.
This report outlines a science-based framework to manage the environmental impacts of deep-sea mining, particularly the collection of polymetallic nodules from the seafloor. The framework is built around the principles of ecosystem-based management (EBM), which aims to balance ecological health with human use by considering the entire marine system, spanning ecological, social and economic factors.
Conceptual diagram of the Integrated Ecosystem Assessment reproduced from Levin, P. S., Fogarty, M. J., Murawski, S. A., and Fluharty, D. 2009. Integrated ecosystem assessments: Developing the scientific basis for ecosystem-based management of the ocean. PLoS Biology, 7(1): 23–8, with permission from NOAA Fisheries.
The core of the framework is an eight-step process known as Integrated Ecosystem Assessment (IEA). These steps include engaging stakeholders, defining the scope of the ecosystem, developing indicators to monitor change, assessing ecosystem health, evaluating risks, addressing uncertainty, testing management options, and ongoing monitoring. This cycle is designed to be adaptive – meaning it can evolve as new information becomes available.
A major challenge in deep-sea mining is the lack of baseline data and the high uncertainty about how ecosystems will respond to disturbance. To address this, the work the consortium has completed uses qualitative mathematical models that can work with limited data and still provide useful insights. These models help predict how mining might affect the environment and guide decisions about where and how mining can occur safely.
The report also emphasises the importance of clear thresholds for environmental harm, including definitions of what constitutes ‘serious harm‘. These thresholds help determine when mining activities must be stopped or adjusted to avoid unacceptable damage.
Finally, the framework stresses the need for ongoing engagement with scientists, regulators, industry, and communities. This ensures that decisions are informed by a wide range of perspectives and that the management approach remains transparent and accountable.