The deep-sea mining industry is planning to extract valuable resources from the remote Clarion Clipperton Zone (CCZ) in the Eastern Pacific Ocean. However, new research has raised alarming concerns about the impact this activity could have on ocean life, including whales and dolphins.

A team of researchers from the University of Exeter conducted two studies, which found that the CCZ is home to a diverse range of marine species, including an endangered sperm whale. The studies highlight the urgent need for assessing the risks associated with deep-sea mining in these ecosystems.

“We know remarkably little about these ecosystems, which are hundreds of miles offshore and include very deep waters,” said Dr. Kirsten Young, one of the researchers involved in the study. “Many species here are long-lived and slow-growing, especially on the seabed. It’s very hard to predict how seabed mining might affect these species and wider ecosystems, and these risks must urgently be assessed.”

One of the research papers reviews noise sensitivity among species known to live in the CCZ. The results show that only 35% of taxonomic classes there have been studied for noise impacts. Soniferous fish, which rely on acoustic communication, are particularly vulnerable to noise. Chronic exposure to mining noise might have cascading ecological consequences, disrupting key behaviors, the researchers say.

The second study is a survey of whales and dolphins conducted from the Greenpeace vessel Arctic Sunrise. Over 13 days of visual and acoustic monitoring, there were 74 acoustic detections and six sightings. These included a sperm whale, Risso’s dolphins, common dolphins, and 70 dolphin groups that could not be identified to species level.

Dr. Young emphasized that if deep seabed mining becomes a reality, whales and dolphins will be exposed to multiple sources of noise throughout the water column. Many species are highly sensitive to certain frequencies – chronic ocean noise can mask social and foraging communications, and whales could be displaced from critical habitats.

“The behavior and impact of sediment plumes created by mining is also poorly understood but could affect food webs,” Dr. Young added.

Louisa Casson of Greenpeace International stated, “The confirmed presence of cetaceans, including threatened sperm whales, in areas that The Metals Company is targeting for deep sea mining is yet another clear warning that this dangerous industry must never be allowed to begin commercial operations.”

The two research papers are published in the Marine Pollution Bulletin and Frontiers in Marine Science, respectively. They provide a compelling argument for why deep-sea mining should not proceed without further consideration of its potential impacts on marine ecosystems and the species that inhabit them.

As we delve into the fascinating world of marine mammals, a team of scientists from the SETI Institute and the University of California at Davis has made a groundbreaking discovery. For the first time, they’ve documented humpback whales producing large bubble rings, akin to a human smoker blowing smoke rings, during friendly interactions with humans. This previously little-studied behavior may represent play or communication.

Humpback whales are already known for using bubbles to corral prey and creating bubble trails and bursts when competing to escort a female whale. These new observations show humpback whales producing bubble rings during friendly encounters with humans. This finding contributes to the WhaleSETI team’s broader goal of studying non-human intelligence to aid in the search for extraterrestrial intelligence.

The study, published in Marine Mammal Science, analyzed 12 bubble ring-production episodes involving 39 rings made by 11 individual whales. According to Dr. Laurance Doyle, SETI Institute scientist and co-author on the paper, “Because of current limitations on technology, an important assumption of the search for extraterrestrial intelligence is that extraterrestrial intelligence and life will be interested in making contact and so target human receivers.” This assumption is certainly supported by the independent evolution of curious behavior in humpback whales.

Dr. Fred Sharpe, co-lead author and UC Davis Affiliate, notes, “Humpback whales live in complex societies, are acoustically diverse, use bubble tools, and assist other species being harassed by predators. Now, akin to a candidate signal, we show they are blowing bubble rings in our direction in an apparent attempt to playfully interact, observe our response, and/or engage in some form of communication.”

The team’s findings have significant implications for the search for extraterrestrial intelligence. By studying intelligent, non-terrestrial (aquatic), nonhuman communication systems, they aim to develop filters that aid in parsing cosmic signals for signs of extraterrestrial life.

Other team members and coauthors of the paper include Dr. Josephine Hubbard, Doug Perrine, Simon Hilbourne, Dr. Joy Reidenberg, and Dr. Brenda McCowan, with specialties in animal intelligences, photography, behavior of humpback whales, whale anatomy, and the use of AI in parsing animal communication.

An earlier paper by the team was published in PeerJ, entitled “Interactive Bioacoustic Playback as a Tool for Detecting and Exploring Nonhuman Intelligence: ‘Conversing’ with an Alaskan Humpback Whale.” The authors would like to acknowledge the Templeton Foundation Diverse Intelligences Program for financial support of this work.

The discovery of the oldest known whale bone tools has shed new light on the complex relationship between early human societies and marine mammals. A recent study conducted by researchers from the Institute of Environmental Science and Technology (ICTA-UAB), the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS), and the University of British Columbia has revealed that humans were utilizing whale bones as tools as far back as 20,000 years ago.

This groundbreaking research, led by Jean-Marc Pétillon and Krista McGrath, analyzed 83 bone tools excavated from sites around the Bay of Biscay in Spain, along with 90 additional bones from Santa Catalina Cave. Using mass spectrometry and radiocarbon dating, the researchers identified the species and age of the samples, revealing that at least five species of large whales were used by early humans.

The oldest bone tools date back to approximately 19,000-20,000 years ago, providing some of the earliest known evidence of humans using whale remains as tools. This significant discovery broadens our understanding of early human use of whale resources and offers valuable insights into the marine ecology of the time.

According to Krista McGrath, leading author of the paper, “ZooMS is a powerful technique for investigating past sea mammal diversity, particularly when diagnostic morphometric elements are missing from bone remains and objects.” The researchers were able to identify species such as sperm whales, fin whales, blue whales, and grey whales, which still inhabit the Bay of Biscay today.

Moreover, chemical data extracted from the bones suggest that the feeding habits of these ancient whales differed slightly from those of their modern counterparts. This finding points to potential changes in behavior or the marine environment, further emphasizing the importance of this discovery.

The study not only enhances our understanding of early human use of whale remains but also sheds light on the role whales played in past ecosystems. As we continue to explore and learn from these ancient interactions, we gain a deeper appreciation for the intricate relationships between humans, wildlife, and the environment.