A new study has found that the decommissioning and recovery of submarine telecommunications and power cables tends to have a ‘short-lived’ impact on the environment, with any impact generally located in the immediate area where cables are situated.
The study, which was undertaken by a team of academic ocean scientists and industry experts and was published in the Journal of Environmental Management, found that the environmental impact tended to be greater in shallow waters where cables were buried, with surface laid cables in deep water having even smaller impacts.
The International Cable Protection Committee (ICPC) welcomed the report, noting that its findings fill a knowledge gap, and provide guidance for industry, regulators, and marine planners.
Responsible cable recovery
“This study marks a major step forward for evidence-based decision-making globally,” commented John Wrottesley, ICPC operations manager. “As marine space becomes increasingly congested and contested, it is vital that we manage submarine infrastructure responsibly throughout its lifecycle.
“The findings give regulators and industry confidence that responsible cable recovery is both feasible and environmentally proportionate, and that it plays a key role in enabling the installation of next-generation systems without encroaching on sensitive seabed areas.”
According to the ICPC, more than 3.5 million kilometres of submarine cables are now installed around the world, with much of this infrastructure reaching – or having passed – its 25-year lifespan. Prior to the publication of this report, no scientific analysis of the environmental impacts of retrieving such cables had been undertaken.
Circular economy
The study also examined the potential circular economy potential from recovering submarine cables, with many fibre-optic cables found to have remained structurally intact even after long periods on the seabed. The materials used in said cables, including copper, steel, and plastic, boast recyclability rates of more than 95%.
“Our aim was to provide the first evidence-based assessment of the environmental implications of submarine cable decommissioning,” commented Dr Mike Clare of the National Oceanography Centre, the report’s lead author.
“We found that recovery operations typically create only a very localised and short-lived disturbance, while offering substantial benefits for recycling and the circular economy. In most cases, subsea cables remain in near-pristine condition – even after decades in the deep ocean – which means they can be safely and efficiently recovered and repurposed or recycled.” Read more here and here.
