Deep sea mining noise poses harm to blue whales, scientists warn

The research paper says the constant disturbance from mining could cause ill health to marine mammals such as whales and dolphins. Photograph: Kevin Griffin/Alamy

Deep sea mining could be doing irreparable damage to blue whales and other rare marine creatures, scientists have warned.

A peer-reviewed paper published by the University of Exeter and Greenpeace Research Laboratories focuses on the overlap between cetaceans (such as whales, dolphins and porpoises) and target sites for deep sea mining, especially in the Pacific Ocean. The authors warn that urgent research is needed to assess threats to these mammals.