Some have argued that the natural sedimentation rate of the ocean is only of the order of 1-2 mm/thousand years, to imply that any sediment disturbance in the deep sea is unnatural. However, this is factually inaccurate. This number ignores benthic storms and seismic activity on the seabed floor, which significantly increase the sediment rate. Hence, we will not generate 23,000 times the rate of natural sedimentation.
The exact amount of sediment disturbance for each mining project will be confirmed by scientists as part of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) before permission is granted to start mining. The sedimentation rate will depend on the particular sediment composition in an individual site and the technology used, but it is established that the Eureka Collection System generates a fraction of the sediment disturbance compared to the dredging/riser technology developed by the other DSM companies.
