Research Document - 2010/050
Hydrothermal Vent Ecosystems
By J.H. Banoub
Abstract
State-of-the-art scientific technological development has made it possible for humans to reach the Earth’s last frontier, that is the deepest areas of the sea and hence, discover hydrothermal vents. Hydrothermal vents possess unique, unscathed hidden ecosystems with oasis-like luxuriant and immense biological diversity. However, the biological communities and their inhabitants in these hydrothermal vents are starting to feel the pressure of human impact. In addition to deep-sea fishing, novel entrepreneurial discovery expeditions have been increasingly undertaken, and their different aims have shifted from geological and geophysical mining exploring studies to ecological, biological, and physiological studies. Recently, another newly invented biotechnological activity, described as the “bioprospecting” of the hot vents, has been started in search of new targeted products having potential as pharmaceuticals, molecular probes, enzymes, cosmetics, nutritional supplements, and agrichemicals. Unfortunately, it has been determined that these deep-sea technological activities, in addition to the fisheries in these areas, introduce a new and potentially serious threat for these deep-sea communities.
This publication's main intent is the statement position that deep-sea fishes qualify as endangered; hence the sustainable use of the deep sea and the organisms that inhabit it should be promoted and encouraged.
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