Norway will not go ahead with plans to permit seabed mining of critical raw materials on its continental shelf if initial exploration suggests it cannot be done sustainably

I also fail to see how seabed mining is any more or less "sustainable," ecologically speaking, than surface mining.

This is purely me speculating, but with seabed mining I feel like the affected area might be potentially bigger. I see at least four ways it can have a negative impact, two of which to me seems unique for seabed mining.

1. The first thing I can think of would be similar to the impact of surface mining. The process likely involves disturbing the seabed's surface, which can destroy habitats for a wide range of marine organisms.
2. Again similar, noise and light pollution from mining might have a negative impact.
3. However, it being water, you also need to consider sediment plumes and general spread of anything that is kicked up.
4. Related to the previous point, any chemical pollution will spread more easily as it would be on land.

If deep-sea mining is truly necessary to stop emissions, we had better do it now. Sorry, seabed critters.

Unless it has such an impact that it negatively influences our ocean biomes. The majority of oxygen production, and therefore CO2 absorption, is done in oceans by plankton. Not trees or other surface plants. Simply put, oceans play a huge role in the carbon cycle.

We better make sure we fully understand the impact seabed mining has before we decide it is truly necessary. Because if there is one thing we already did enough is fuck up our planet by making rash decisions.