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1 Study Summary
Commission (CEA), University of Western Brittany (UBO), were also involved.
This campaign resulted in the discovery of a recent, vast volcanic area (new ridge,
new volcanoes) and the identification of several hydrothermal deposits.
Recommendations
The priority actions proposed for France can be divided into eight avenues.
Scientific Knowledge and Development of Potential
This action implies joint, multidisciplinary research geared towards knowledge of
the seabed and protection of biodiversity, involving public and private players (notably in the fields of marine technologies, metallogeny…) as well as NGOs competent in the field, in particular in terms of biodiversity, site resilience… This work
should be conducted in synergy with national and European research on mineral
resources (French research alliances, reflection on French overseas territories, National Research Agency, European Union Research and Development Framework
Programme).
This approach should lead to the establishment of a national geological and biological seabed research programme, including targeted exploration of the French
EEZ and the international seabed, over a ten-year period; this programme should
include new exploration technologies (high resolution, three dimensions, modelling…), a programme of marine campaigns using flow monitoring tools, evaluation
of biodiversity and management of the information produced (geographic information systems (GIS), sensitive information banks…).
In 2011, a second exploration campaign was run in the Wallis and Futuna area.
Given international pressure on applications, this type of approach should be extended to other areas, by seeking optimal use of the means available at sea and of
the available national scientific forces. This action should be designed and run by a
French or, from the outset, a European consortium.
Public-Private Partnership
The goal is to develop a French deep-sea mining centre. Based on an approach
inspired by the French Grenelle Environment Round Table, this involves supporting a mining project public-private partnership, by drawing upon the development
of French technologies and industry, both for exploration techniques and for the
technological research required to build an extraction pilot. This would result in an
industrial pilot for metal extraction (in the EEZ of Wallis and Futuna and/or other
international zones).
1 Study Summary
Commission (CEA), University of Western Brittany (UBO), were also involved.
This campaign resulted in the discovery of a recent, vast volcanic area (new ridge,
new volcanoes) and the identification of several hydrothermal deposits.
Recommendations
The priority actions proposed for France can be divided into eight avenues.
Scientific Knowledge and Development of Potential
This action implies joint, multidisciplinary research geared towards knowledge of
the seabed and protection of biodiversity, involving public and private players (notably in the fields of marine technologies, metallogeny…) as well as NGOs competent in the field, in particular in terms of biodiversity, site resilience… This work
should be conducted in synergy with national and European research on mineral
resources (French research alliances, reflection on French overseas territories, National Research Agency, European Union Research and Development Framework
Programme).
This approach should lead to the establishment of a national geological and biological seabed research programme, including targeted exploration of the French
EEZ and the international seabed, over a ten-year period; this programme should
include new exploration technologies (high resolution, three dimensions, modelling…), a programme of marine campaigns using flow monitoring tools, evaluation
of biodiversity and management of the information produced (geographic information systems (GIS), sensitive information banks…).
In 2011, a second exploration campaign was run in the Wallis and Futuna area.
Given international pressure on applications, this type of approach should be extended to other areas, by seeking optimal use of the means available at sea and of
the available national scientific forces. This action should be designed and run by a
French or, from the outset, a European consortium.
Public-Private Partnership
The goal is to develop a French deep-sea mining centre. Based on an approach
inspired by the French Grenelle Environment Round Table, this involves supporting a mining project public-private partnership, by drawing upon the development
of French technologies and industry, both for exploration techniques and for the
technological research required to build an extraction pilot. This would result in an
industrial pilot for metal extraction (in the EEZ of Wallis and Futuna and/or other
international zones).