Characterization and Mapping of a Deep-Sea Sponge Ground on the Tropic Seamount (Northeast Tropical Atlantic): Implications for Spatial Management in the High Seas

• Published in: Frontiers in Marine Science
• Main Authors: Berta Ramiro-Sánchez, José Manuel González-Irusta, Lea-Anne Henry, Jason Cleland, Isobel Yeo, Joana R. Xavier, Marina Carreiro-Silva, Íris Sampaio, Jeremy Spearman, Lissette Victorero, Charles G. Messing, Georgios Kazanidis, J. Murray Roberts, Bramley Murton
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2019
• Subjects: deep-sea; sponge grounds; seamount; species distribution models; biogeography; ABNJ; Science; Q; General. Including nature conservation; geographical distribution; QH1-199.5; Gam; North Atlantic Deep Water; North Atlantic
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2019.00278; https://doaj.org/article/4c07b4d5304448ca8da772a25b21cedc

Ferromanganese crusts occurring on seamounts are a potential resource for rare earth elements that are critical for low-carbon technologies. Seamounts, however, host vulnerable marine ecosystems (VMEs), which means that spatial management is needed to address potential conflicts between mineral extr...