Deep-seabed mining: environmental issues and international regulatory regimes

Abstract

In the last few decades, there has been an increasing interest on the development of seabed mineral resources (such as polymetallic nodules, ferro-manganese crusts, and massive sulfides) due to limited land resources and rapidly increasing industrial demands. In response, International Seabed Authority (ISA) has issued more than 18 exploration licenses to the contractors (private companies or nations) for the last 5 years. At the same time, there are also growing concerns on the environmental impacts by the seabed mining. Thus, the environmental regulations have been getting more specific and strict, such as the development of guidance to contractors for environmental study and management plan encompassing selection of area of particular environmental interest. Also, a few nations (China, South Pacific island nations, etc.) have legislated their own domestic regulations and laws concerning seabed mining. However, ISA has not finalized the regulation of exploitation, particularly on environmental regulatory issues, because of limited knowledge on deep-sea environments as well as on potential impact of seabed mining and potential conflict with other organizations, concepts and conventions (international maritime organization (IMO), BBNJ, MPA). However, there were some progresses observed. For example, ISA has proposed to collaborate with IMO (London Convention) to prevent and minimize the environmental impact of mine tindustrial demands. In response, International Seabed Authority (ISA) has issued more than 18 exploration licenses to the contractors (private companies or nations) for the last 5 years. At the same time, there are also growing concerns on the environmental impacts by the seabed mining. Thus, the environmental regulations have been getting more specific and strict, such as the development of guidance to contractors for environmental study and management plan encompassing selection of area of particular environmental interest. Also, a few nations (China, South Pacific island nations, etc.) have legislated their own domestic regulations and laws concerning seabed mining. However, ISA has not finalized the regulation of exploitation, particularly on environmental regulatory issues, because of limited knowledge on deep-sea environments as well as on potential impact of seabed mining and potential conflict with other organizations, concepts and conventions (international maritime organization (IMO), BBNJ, MPA). However, there were some progresses observed. For example, ISA has proposed to collaborate with IMO (London Convention) to prevent and minimize the environmental impact of mine t