Effects of Offshore seabed Mining On Surf Breaks
eCoast Marine Consulting and Research was commissioned by NIWA to impacts of proposed offshore mining operations on surfing breaks.
eCoast Marine Consulting and Research was commissioned by NIWA to investigate the impacts of Trans-Tasman Resources' (TTR) proposed offshore mining operations on surfing breaks in the Southern Taranaki Bight. For the extraction of minerals from seabed sediment, the sediment is first removed from the seabed (leaving a pit), and then after the extraction of mineral components from the load, a large proportion will be returned to the seabed (creating a mound). In both cases, there is the potential to alter the bathymetry (both local deepening and raising of the seabed), which can potentially affect waves through refraction, diffraction and local shoaling. In order to determine these effects, focus was directed toward modelled wave heights and directions under various bathymetry scenarios.
