Experimental investigation of the inhibition of deep-sea mining sediment plumes by polyaluminum chloride

Deep-sea sediment disturbance may occur when collecting polymetallic nodules,resulting in the creation of plumes that could have a negative impact on the ecological environment.This study aims to investigate the potential solution of using polyaluminum chloride(PAC)in the water jet.The effects of PAC are examined through a self-designed simulation system for deep-sea polymetallic nodule collection and sediment samples from a potential deep-sea mining area.The experimental results showed that the optimal PAC dose was found to be 0.75 g/L.Compared with the test conditions without the addition of PAC,the presence of PAC leads to a reduction in volume,lower characteristic turbidity,smaller diffusion velocity,and shorter settling time of the plume.This indicates that PAC inhibits the entire development process of the plume.The addition of PAC leads to the flocculation of mm-sized particles,resulting in the formation of cm-sized flocs.The flocculation of particles decreases the rate of erosion on the seabed by around 30%.This reduction in erosion helps to decrease the formation of plumes.Additionally,when the size of suspended particles increases,it reduces the scale at which they diffuse.Furthermore,the settling velocity of flocs(around 10^(-2) m/s)is much higher that of compared to sediment particles(around 10^(-5) m/s),which effectively reduces the amount of time the plume remains in suspension.

Integrated biomarker response to assess toxic impacts of iron and manganese on deep-sea mussel Gigantidas platifrons under a deep-sea mining activity scenario

Deep-sea mining activities can potentially release metals,which pose a toxicological threat to deep-sea ecosystems.Nevertheless,due to the remoteness and inaccessibility of the deep-sea biosphere,there is insufficient knowledge about the impact of metal exposure on its inhabitants.In this study,deep-sea mussel Gigantidas platifrons,a commonly used deep-sea toxicology model organism,was exposed to manganese(100,1000μg/L)or iron(500,5000μg/L)for 7 d,respectively.Manganese and iron were chosen for their high levels of occurrence within deep-sea deposits.Metal accumulation and a battery of biochemical biomarkers related to antioxidative stress in superoxide dismutase(SOD),catalase(CAT),malondialdehyde(MDA);immune function in alkaline phosphatase(AKP),acid phosphatase(ACP);and energy metabolism in pyruvate kinase(PK)and hexokinase(HK)were assessed in mussel gills.Results showed that deep-sea mussel G.platifrons exhibited a high capacity to accumulate Mn/Fe.In addition,most tested biochemical parameters were altered by metal exposure,demonstrating that metals could induce oxidative stress,suppress the immune system,and affect energy metabolism of deep-sea mussels.The integrated biomarker response(IBR)approach indicated that the exposure to Mn/Fe had a negative impact on deep-sea mussels,and Mn demonstrated a more harmful impact on deep-sea mussels than Fe.Additionally,SOD and CAT biomarkers had the greatest impact on IBR values in Mn treatments,while ACP and HK were most influential for the low-and high-dose Fe groups,respectively.This study represents the first application of the IBR approach to evaluate the toxicity of metals on deep-sea fauna and serves as a crucial framework for risk assessment of deep-sea mining-associated metal exposure.

Sea Cucumber Fishery in Aurora, Philippines

This study was conducted to provide a preliminary assessment of the sea cucumber fishery in Aurora, Philippines. This was conducted from February to June 2013. All sea cucumber gatherers and traders, obtained through snowball sampling, in each identified sea cucumber fishery area in six coastal municipalities (Baler, Dipaculao, Dinalungan, Casiguran, Dilasag and Dingalan) were interviewed using a structured interview schedule and focused group discussions (FGD). Results revealed that gathering sea cucumbers were accomplished by handpicking, skin diving or compressor diving. A total of 15 commercial species were regularly gathered. Out of this, three species are of very high economic value (≥Php 4000/kg) (Holothuria nobilis, Holothuria scabra, and Actinopyga lecanora). The average number of kilograms harvested per hour per trip ranges from 0.21 (Holothuria fuscopunctata) to 2.71 (Holothuria scabra), while the average size of commonly gathered sea cucumber varies among species with Holothuria lecanora showed an average length (29.26 cm) greater than recorded 24 cm. Processing mainly involves washing, slicing, boiling, drying and packing. Processed sea cucumbers or trepan were sold to middlemen or direct buyers who usually offered higher prices (36.36% up to 69.20%) than the former. Problems encountered by sea cucumber gatherers and traders include a decline in total catch, a shift in area of collection from intertidal zones to deeper waters, an increase in the number of hours spent in finding and gathering sea cucumbers, the use of compressors in gathering, the decline of larger species and gathering of smaller sizes in huge amount, the absence of conservation program for sea cucumber, and the lenient implementation of government policies with regards to coastal resources management.

Predicting impact forces on pipelines from deep-sea fluidized slides:A comprehensive review of key factors

Deep-sea pipelines play a pivotal role in seabed mineral resource development,global energy and resource supply provision,network communication,and environmental protection.However,the placement of these pipelines on the seabed surface exposes them to potential risks arising from the complex deep-sea hydrodynamic and geological environment,particularly submarine slides.Historical incidents have highlighted the substantial damage to pipelines due to slides.Specifically,deep-sea fluidized slides(in a debris/mud flow or turbidity current physical state),characterized by high speed,pose a significant threat.Accurately assessing the impact forces exerted on pipelines by fluidized submarine slides is crucial for ensuring pipeline safety.This study aimed to provide a comprehensive overview of recent advancements in understanding pipeline impact forces caused by fluidized deep-sea slides,thereby identifying key factors and corresponding mechanisms that influence pipeline impact forces.These factors include the velocity,density,and shear behavior of deep-sea fluidized slides,as well as the geometry,stiffness,self-weight,and mechanical model of pipelines.Additionally,the interface contact conditions and spatial relations were examined within the context of deep-sea slides and their interactions with pipelines.Building upon a thorough review of these achievements,future directions were proposed for assessing and characterizing the key factors affecting slide impact loading on pipelines.A comprehensive understanding of these results is essential for the sustainable development of deep-sea pipeline projects associated with seabed resource development and the implementation of disaster prevention measures.

Deep-sea rock mechanics and mining technology:State of the art and perspectives

The review covers the development and the state of the art in deep-sea mining rock mechanics,equipment and challenges.It begins by introducing the significance of deep-sea mining,the types and geographical distribution of deep-sea resources.Section 2 reviews the mechanical properties and fracture mechanism of seabed and related continental rocks,which contributes to the advancement of relevant technologies and theories.Deep-sea mining systems developed by coastal countries are presented in Section 3.Seabed mineral collection systems are critically assessed in Section 4.Subsea mining vehicle is reviewed by walking mechanism and controlling system in Section 5.In Section 6,the development of subsea lifting system is detailed by dividing it into hydraulic and pneumatic lifting modes,and some technical problems in the lifting system are described.An in-depth description of surface support systems is presented in Section 7,which includes the deep-sea mining ship,dynamic positioning system,heave compensation system,launch and retrieval system,mineral disposing system as well as the storage and transferring systems.Section 8 discusses the challenges in the deep-sea mining,in terms of natural occurrence conditions,international legal framework and cooperative mining,environmental protection and economic benefits,etc.Finally,a brief summary and some aspects of prospective research are presented in Section 9.

Interactions among deep-sea mussels and their epibiotic and endosymbiotic chemoautotrophic bacteria: Insights from multi-omics analysis

Endosymbiosis with Gammaproteobacteria is fundamental for the success of bathymodioline mussels in deep-sea chemosynthesis-based ecosystems. However, the recent discovery of Campylobacteria on the gill surfaces of these mussels suggests that these host-bacterial relationships may be more complex than previously thought. Using the cold-seep mussel(Gigantidas haimaensis) as a model, we explored this hostbacterial system by assembling the host transcriptome and genomes of its epibiotic Campylobacteria and endosymbiotic Gammaproteobacteria and quantifying their gene and protein expression levels. We found that the epibiont applies a sulfur oxidizing(SOX)multienzyme complex with the acquisition of sox B from Gammaproteobacteria for energy production and switched from a reductive tricarboxylic acid (rTCA) cycle to a Calvin-Benson-Bassham(CBB)cycle for carbon assimilation. The host provides metabolic intermediates, inorganic carbon, and thiosulfate to satisfy the materials and energy requirements of the epibiont, but whether the epibiont benefits the host is unclear. The endosymbiont adopts methane oxidation and the ribulose monophosphate pathway(Ru MP) for energy production, providing the major source of energy for itself and the host. The host obtains most of its nutrients, such as lysine, glutamine, valine,isoleucine, leucine, histidine, and folate, from the endosymbiont. In addition, host pattern recognition receptors, including toll-like receptors, peptidoglycan recognition proteins, and C-type lectins, may participate in bacterial infection, maintenance, and population regulation. Overall, this study provides insights into the complex host-bacterial relationships that have enabled mussels and bacteria to thrive in deep-sea chemosynthetic ecosystems.

Fisheries Management under Ecological Interdependence: The Case of European Hake and Blue Whiting Fishery

In mixed fisheries where there is an increased ecological interdependence between two or more target species, the possibilities of fishing these species must be determined jointly, since catches of one species will impact the natural growth not only of that species but of the others, as well. The objective of this paper is to develop a predator-prey model for two major species caught by the EU fishing fleet on European Union fishing grounds. The predator and prey’s population dynamics follow the Lotka-Volterra equation and are assumed to be logic-based, and a lineal interaction between the predator and prey populations is assumed. Optimal single owner multispecies fishery management is analysed, and the applied model is solved, obtaining the equilibrium value of biomasses, catches, and net benefits of the mixed fishery. The results show that the MSY of the predator is higher than that estimated by ICES, while MSY for prey is lower. The sensitivity analysis of the results reveals that the biomass levels of both species decrease as the discount rate increases, while catches increase.

System Identification and Parameter Self-Tuning Controller on Deep-Sea Mining Vehicle

System identification is a quintessential measure for real-time analysis on kinematic characteristics for deep-sea mining vehicle, and thus to enhance the control performance and testing efficiency. In this study, the system identification algorithm, recursive least square method with instrumental variables(IV-RLS), is tailored to model ‘Pioneer I’, a deep-sea mining vehicle which recently completed a 1305-meter-deep sea trial in the Xisha area of the South China Sea in August, 2021. The algorithm operates on the sensor data collected from the trial to obtain the vehicle’s kinematic model and accordingly design the parameter self-tuning controller. The performances demonstrate the accuracy of the model, and prove its generalization capability. With this model, the optimal controller has been designed, the control parameters have been self-tuned, and the response time and robustness of the system have been optimized,which validates the high efficiency on digital modelling for precision control of deep-sea mining vehicles.

Two Kinds of Waves Causing the Resuspension of Deep-Sea Sediments:Excitation and Internal Solitary Waves

The resuspension of marine sediments plays a key role in the biogeochemical cycle and marine ecology system.Internal solitary waves are considered to be important driving forces of the resuspension of bottom sediments.In this paper,the movement of turbidity currents,the generation and the effects on the bottom bed of internal solitary waves and excitation waves are studied by flume tests and numerical simulations,and the sediment resuspension are analyzed.The results show that the excitation wave can lead to the resuspension of the bottom sediments under all the conditions,while the internal solitary wave can lead to the resuspension of the sediment only under some special conditions,such as high amplitude or large underwater slope.Under the experimental conditions,the change in the near-bottom velocity caused by the excitation wave is close to three times that of the internal solitary wave.

Blockage of the Deep-Sea Mining Pump Transporting Large Particles with Different Sphericity

The present study aims to plumb blockage of the deep-sea mining pump transporting large particles with different shapes. A numerical work was performed through combining the computational fluid dynamics(CFD) technique and the discrete element method(DEM). Six particle shapes with sphericity ranging from 0.67 to 1.0 were selected. A velocity triangle is built with the absolute, relative, and circumferential velocities of particles. Velocity triangles with absolute velocity angles ranging from 90° to 180° prevail in the first-stage impeller. With declining sphericity, more particles follow the velocity triangle with absolute velocity angles ranging from 0° to 90°, which weakens the ability of particles to pass through the flow passage. Furthermore, the forces acting on the particles traveling in the impeller passage are analyzed. Large particles, especially non-spherical ones, suffer from high centrifugal force and therefore move along the suction surface of the impeller blades. Non-spherical particles undergo great drag force as a result of large surface area. The distribution of drag force angles is featured by two peaks, and one vanishes due to blockage.As particle sphericity declines, both magnitude and angle of the pressure gradient force decrease. Variation of the drag force and the pressure gradient force causes clockwise deflection of the centripetal force, resulting in deflection and elongation of particle trajectory, which increases the possibility of blockage.

Dynamic coupled thermo-hydro-mechanical problem for heterogeneous deep-sea sediments under vibration of mining vehicle

Due to the influence of deep-sea environment,deep-sea sediments are usually heterogeneous,and their moduli of elasticity and density change as depth changes.Combined with the characteristics of deep-sea sediments,the thermo-hydro-mechanical coupling dynamic response model of heterogeneous saturated porous sediments can be established to study the influence of elastic modulus,density,frequency,and load amplitude changes on the model.Based on the Green-Lindsay generalized thermoelasticity theory and Darcy’s law,the thermo-hydro-mechanical coupled dynamic response model and governing equations of heterogeneous deep-sea sediments with nonlinear elastic modulus and density are established.The analytical solutions of dimensionless vertical displacement,vertical stress,excess pore water pressure,and temperature are obtained by means of normal modal analysis,which are depicted graphically.The results show that the changes of elastic modulus and density have few effects on vertical displacement,vertical stress,and temperature,but have great effects on excess pore water pressure.When the mining machine vibrates,the heterogeneity of deep-sea sediments has great influence on vertical displacement,vertical stress,and excess pore water pressure,but has few effects on temperature.In addition,the vertical displacement,vertical stress,and excess pore water pressure of heterogeneous deep-sea sediments change more gently.The variation trends of physical quantities for heterogeneous and homogeneous deep-sea sediments with frequency and load amplitude are basically the same.The results can provide theoretical guidance for deep-sea mining engineering construction.

Stress Path Analysis of Deep-Sea Sediments Under the Compression-Shear Coupling Load of Crawler Collectors

The mechanical properties of deep-sea sediments during the driving process of crawler collectors are essential factors in the design of mining systems.In this study,a crawler load is divided into a normal compression load and a horizontal shear load.Then,the internal stress state of sedimentary soil is examined through a theoretical calculation and finite element numerical simulation.Finally,the driving of crawlers is simulated by changing the relative spatial position between the load and stress unit,obtaining the stress path of the soil unit.Based on the calculation results,the effect of the horizontal shear load on the soil stress response is analyzed at different depths,and the spatial variation law of the soil stress path is examined.The results demonstrate that the horizontal shear load has a significant effect on the rotation of the principal stress,and the reverse rotation of the principal stress axis becomes obvious with the increase in the burial depth.The stress path curve of the soil is different at various depths.The spatial variation rule of the stress path of the shallow soil is complex,whereas the stress path curve of the deep soil tends to shrink as the depth increases.The stress path of the corresponding depth should be selected according to the actual research purpose and applied to the laboratory test.

Development of New Green Feed for Large Water Surface Ecological Fishery

In view of the fact that cages and bait are not allowed in large water surface aquiculture,1-2 kinds of new green feeds"plankton+microecologics"were developed to solve the problems of yield reduction,slow growth and difficulty in fishing of aquatic organisms caused by extensive mode.The new green feed is ecological,environmentally friendly and residue-free,which not only supplements nutrition but also meets the requirements of environmental protection.

Variation of the coastal upwelling off South Java and their impact on local fishery resources

There is a vast upwelling area induced by the southeast monsoon in the waters off South Java,making the region an important fishing ground.Climate events can affect the variation of upwelling,but oceanographers have different understandings on the extent to which climate events control upwelling in this area,which leads to a lack of basis for studies on the evaluation and mechanisms of the variability of fishery resources in the region.The correlation between environmental parameters,including surface temperature(SST),chlorophyll-a(Chl-a)concentration,and climate event indices in South Java from 2003 to 2020 was analyzed.Results show that the Indian Ocean Dipole(IOD)has a greater influence on the interannual variability of upwelling intensity than ENSO.During the IOD,variations in equatorial latitudinal winds excite different types of Kelvin waves that anomalously deepen or shallow the thermocline,which is the main cause of anomalous variations in upwelling,independent of variations in the local wind field.A correlation between the interannual variability in upwelling and the annual catches was revealed,showing that climatic events indirectly affect fishery resources through upwelling effects.During positive IOD/El Niño periods,strong upwelling delivers more nutrients to the surface layer,which favors fish growth and reproduction,resulting in higher annual catches.A negative IOD/La Niña,on the other hand,leads to weaker upwelling and fewer nutrients into the surface waters.Fish tend to move in deeper waters,making traditional fishing methods less efficient and consequently lower annual catches.

中国淡水池塘养殖发展的时空格局与前景展望

淡水池塘养殖是我国重要的渔业生产方式,解析其时空发展格局对于研判和把握未来的发展趋势十分必要。本研究以历年来中国渔业统计年鉴数据为基础,对近40年以来(1980-2020年,以5年为间隔;另有2021、2022年)全国31个省级行政单元淡水池塘养殖产量、面积、单产、占渔业总产量的比例进行了统计分析。结果表明:(1)养殖产量总体呈持续增加趋势,但增长率波动式放缓,1980-2020年增长率从181.9%下降至12.0%,2020-2022年均值为2348.3万吨,平均增长率为2.9%;(2)养殖面积亦呈持续增加趋势,但增长率波动式放缓,从53.1%下降至4.8%,2020-2022年均值261.8万hm^(2),平均增长率为0%;(3)单产总体呈波动式增长,但增长率从82.8%逐步下降至13.7%,2020-2022年均值604.7 kg/667 m^(2),平均增长率为2.4%;(4)各省淡水池塘养殖产量占渔业总产量比重的均值呈先上升后逐渐持平的趋势,1995-2022年波动持平变幅在44.6%~49.0%。受水土资源和环境保护刚性约束,当前淡水池塘养殖发展亟需从数量规模型向质量效益型转变,生态-经济合作型渔业综合体将是未来高质量发展的重要途径。

我国淡水渔业转型升级路径与工程科技创新重点研究

淡水渔业转型升级对推动消费升级、实现产业高质量可持续发展具有重要意义。本文在剖析我国淡水渔业转型升级面临的突出问题和工程科技需求的基础上,提出淡水渔业转型升级的总体思路、推进路径、主要任务和主要目标,并通过系统研究提出淡水渔业绿色高效养殖模式、优良养殖品种繁育技术与装备、精准投喂与饲料高效利用技术、不同养殖模式下水环境调控技术、尾水高效绿色处理技术与装备、多元信息智能立体感知技术与装备、淡水产品捕捞及冷链化优质保鲜贮运技术和养殖产品初加工技术与装备等工程科技创新研究重点,旨在为全面提升我国淡水渔业的设施化、机械化、智能化、智慧化和标准化水平提供决策参考。

基于长时间序列的中东大西洋渔获物平均营养级及资源状况变化分析

为了解中东大西洋渔业产区渔获物的资源状况,根据世界粮农组织(FAO)提供的该海域1950—2019年的渔获量数据,结合渔获种类的平均营养级(mean trophic level,MTL)信息,运用统计学方法分析70年间渔获物平均营养级和营养级平衡指数(fishing in balance,FiB)的变动规律,以掌握该海域渔业资源的可持续利用情况。结果显示,MTL大致可分为4个阶段,1950—1956年,MTL指数在3.20左右,无明显变化;1957—1963年,MTL指数迅速上升至3.44;1964—1996年,MTL在波动中趋于下降,历史最高值(3.54)出现在1985年;1997—2019年,MTL稳定在较高水平,其中2018年为该阶段最低点3.35。FiB指数整体呈上升趋势,1950—1956年,FiB指数呈小幅波动增加;1957—1974年,FiB指数显著上升;1975—1996年,FiB指数呈平稳波动状态;1997—2019年,FiB指数整体呈小幅增长趋势。结果表明,中东大西洋海洋生态系统相对稳定,但潜在的渔业资源量越来越少,开发潜力有限。

福建省休闲渔业时空演化及驱动机制研究

以2007—2023年福建省评选的269个“水乡渔村”休闲渔业示范基地为研究对象,运用ArcGIS10.8空间分析工具,通过时间演化、全局自相关、局部自相关和标准差椭圆等方法分析福建省休闲渔业的时空演化过程。结果表明:(1)由于福建省的多山地势,内陆地区较难形成结构化以及规模化的聚集;(2)福建省“水乡渔村”的分布呈现出外流水系和内流水系协调演化的区域特点;(3)福建省“水乡渔村”的分布主要聚集在渔业较为发达的闽东沿海,即中国第四大渔场闽东渔场区域。在驱动机制中,休闲渔业示范基地与地形、水系、产业和区域战略等因素密切相关。

中东和东南大西洋渔业资源可持续利用灰色关联评价

为了解中东大西洋和东南大西洋渔业资源利用状况,根据FAO提供的1980—2019年两海域渔获量数据,采用灰色关联法,评价其渔业资源可持续利用水平。研究表明,1980—2019年,中东大西洋和东南大西洋渔获量总体呈相反的变化趋势,其中中东大西洋渔获量波动增长,而东南大西洋渔获量平稳下降,且前者累计渔获量是后者的2.2倍。中上层鱼类是最主要渔获种类,底层鱼类次之。其中,中上层鱼类渔获量分别占各海域的72.03%和67.31%,两个渔区总渔获量排名前二十鱼种均以中上层鱼类为主。灰色关联分析结果显示,1980—2019年,中东大西洋和东南大西洋的基于七大类别灰色关联度和渔获量排名前二十鱼种的灰色关联度值均大于0.7,属于高强度开发及以上状态。中东大西洋渔获量排名前二十鱼种的灰色关联值在2010年前后出现了大于0.9的年份,说明该海域正接近或正处于充分开发状态。东南大西洋基于七大类别灰色关联度和渔获量排名前二十鱼种的灰色关联度值大于0.9出现在多个年份,但主要出现在20世纪80年代和90年代,说明该海域渔业资源早期就接近于充分开发状态。中东大西洋海洋渔业资源开发正达到极限,其渔获量进一步增长的空间非常有限;东南大西洋海域渔业资源经过充分开发和严格管理之后,呈好转趋势,但仍处在高强度开发状态,未来其渔获量增长有限。研究结果可为中东大西洋和东南大西洋海域渔业资源的科学管理和开发利用提供参考。

“十三五”国家重点研发计划“蓝色粮仓科技创新”重点专项科技布局及评述

本文旨在介绍和评估国家重点研发计划“蓝色粮仓科技创新”重点专项在渔业领域科技创新方面的实施情况,并展望我国渔业发展的未来趋势。通过对重点专项的任务布局、项目经费概况、项目分布情况、承担与参与单位(人员)情况进行详细梳理和分析,概括和评述专项实施特点和项目成效。分析显示,该专项具有系统性布局、重点领域突破、产业链协同创新、产业环节差异性布局等特点。在种质创制、健康养殖、资源养护、友好捕捞、流通加工等五大产业需求上取得了系列重要成果,显著提高了我国渔业科技创新水平。基于“蓝色粮仓科技创新”重点专项的实施成效,我国渔业科技创新在“十四五”期间及以后将更加注重拓展水产养殖新空间,发展生态健康养殖模式和智慧渔业,提高养殖设施和装备水平,提升加工综合水平,加快冷链物流建设,高标准建设现代化海洋牧场等领域。这将有助于进一步优化优质蛋白食品产业结构,合理开发和综合利用淡水和海洋资源,推动我国渔业持续健康发展。