OptiMiSe: Optimal Mapping of Biodiversity at Arctic–Mid Ocean Ridge Sulfide Deposits
Photo by Ægir6000 / GoNorth2025
Background: Before deep-sea mining plans can proceed, we need a solid scientific basis to assess environmental risks.
This requires better knowledge of seafloor biodiversity—who lives there, where they occur, and how populations are connected.
Project goals:
OptiMiSe combines modern tools and integrative taxonomy to map biodiversity at sulfide deposits and surrounding habitats along the Arctic Mid-Ocean Ridge, and to evaluate community resilience to disturbance.
The project will:
- Study sediment-dwelling organisms and large seafloor fauna.
- Compare biodiversity across habitats and environmental conditions.
- Assess extinction risk by measuring how unique and connected these communities are.
| Project Owner |
NORCE |
| Participants | University in Bergen, Institute of Marine Research, Bergverk, AkerBP, Adepth Minerals, GCE Ocean Technology |
| Period |
2026-2029 |
| Funding | Total budget of 19 million NOK, where about 16 million is granted by the Research Council of Norway. RCN project 360139. |
| Results | The project will improve the efficiency of deep-sea biodiversity surveys and provide input to the ongoing development of management tools by Norwegian regulators. |
Contact Information
