MIDAS convenes second Science-Policy Panel meeting

On 8 December 2015, the MIDAS project held its second Science-Policy Panel meeting, bringing together scientists with policymakers, NGOs and industry representatives to showcase the latest project results and facilitate open disciussion on key issues. Hosted at the Museum for Natural Sciences in Brussels (and under the gaze of some prehistoric onlookers), the meeting focused on the theme of "maximising potential for ecosystem recovery after deep-sea mining".

The event opened with a series of presentations by MIDAS researchers to highlight some of the scientific progress made during the second year of the project, and was followed by a lengthy question and answer session, during which a number of key topics were discussed. Participants at the meeting included representatives from the European Commission, industry groups UK Seabed Resources, MTI Holland and Global Sea Mineral Resources, the International Seabed Authority and NGOs Seas at Risk, WWF International and Greenpeace. Other interested parties such as OSPAR and IMMS also attended.

The afternoon session saw short presentations from the ISA, mining companies and NGOs followed by further round-table discussion. Key conclusions arising from the meeting included the need for scientists and industry to work more closely together, and the importance of future funding to ensure research into deep-sea mining impacts is continued beyond the lifespan of MIDAS.

A summary report from the SPP meeting is available here.

Above left: MIDAS scientist Andrew Dale (SAMS) demonstrates output from modelling sediment plume dispersal in the deep ocean.