| In the abyssal Equatorial Pacific Ocean, most of the seafloor of the Clarion-Clipperton Fracture Zone (CCFZ), a 6 million km2 polymetallic nodule province, has been preempted for future mining. In light of the large footprint that mining would leave, and given the diversity and the vulnerability of the abyssal fauna, the International Seabed Authority has implemented a regional management plan that includes the creation of nine areas of particular environmental interest (APEIs) located at the periphery of the CCFZ. The APEIs were defined based on the best – albeit very limited – scientific knowledge for the area. The fauna and habitats in the APEIs are unknown, as are species' ranges and the extent of biodiversity across the CCFZ. As part of the Joint... |
