Keywords: benthopelagic connectivity conservation planning cumulative impacts endangered, threatened, and protected species ETP species polymetallic nodules polymetallic sulfides cobalt-rich crusts Results and discussion The race to mine the deep ocean for its reserves of metals has drawn considerable public, political, and scientific attention globally.1 These metals exist in three primary mineral types: polymetallic nodules (PMNs, ∼2.27 million km2 total contract area), which are the...