Deep seabed hard mineral resources act: matrix for united states deep seabed mining

1981 ◽  
Vol 28 (12) ◽  
pp. 904
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Mineral Resources ◽  
Deep Seabed Mining ◽  
Seabed Mining

International Investment Protection in Deep Seabed Mining Beyond National Jurisdiction

2018 ◽  
Vol 19 (5-6) ◽  
pp. 890-929
Author(s):  
Joanna Dingwall
Keyword(s):  
Mineral Resources ◽  
International Investment ◽  
Investment Protection ◽  
Valuable Metals ◽  
Exploratory Stage ◽  
National Jurisdiction ◽  
United Nations Convention ◽  
International Seabed Authority ◽  
Deep Seabed Mining ◽  
Seabed Mining

Abstract The deep seabed beyond national jurisdiction comprises almost three-quarters of the entire surface area of our oceans. It boasts an array of mineral resources, including valuable metals and rare earth elements. Acting under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, the International Seabed Authority is responsible for regulating this area and granting mining contracts to allow investors to explore for and exploit deep seabed minerals. As yet, deep seabed mining activities have been confined to the exploratory stage. However, recently, there has been a marked growth in deep seabed investment by private corporate actors. As technology advances and commercial appetite increases, extraction of deep seabed minerals may soon commence. In this context, this article seeks to address crucial legal issues facing pioneers of deep seabed mining. What is the extent of investment protection within the existing regime? And are there dispute resolution options to enforce such protection?

The Deep Seabed beyond National Jurisdiction and the Rise of Mining Activities within it by Non-state Actors

2021 ◽  
pp. 45-67
Author(s):  
Joanna Dingwall
Keyword(s):  
Rare Earth ◽  
Rare Earth Elements ◽  
Continental Shelf ◽  
Mineral Resources ◽  
Mining Activities ◽  
National Jurisdiction ◽  
International Seabed Authority ◽  
Deep Seabed Mining ◽  
Seabed Mining ◽  
Technological Analysis

Chapter 2 addresses the importance of the deep seabed beyond national jurisdiction and charts the rise in mining activities within it, drawing on scientific, geological and technological analysis, where appropriate, to place deep seabed mining in its broader context. In order to do so, Chapter 2 assesses the scope of the deep seabed beyond national jurisdiction (in contrast to the maritime zones under national jurisdiction, including the continental shelf). The chapter then examines the types of mineral resources that the deep seabed contains (including the potential for rare earth elements). Thereafter, the chapter explores the likely viability of deep seabed mining, both in terms of its impact on the marine environment, and in light of technological challenges and market prospects. Chapter 2 also provides an overview of the current extent of mining activities authorised by the International Seabed Authority (ISA).

Part I Assessing the UN Institutional Structure for Global Ocean Governance: The UN’s Role in Global Ocean Governance, 3 Advancing the Deep Seabed ‘Mining Code’: Key Environmental Elements of the Regulatory Framework for the Commercial Exploitation of Mineral Resources

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessen Henning
Keyword(s):  
Mineral Resources ◽  
Regulatory Framework ◽  
Global Ocean ◽  
Exploration And Exploitation ◽  
Commercial Exploitation ◽  
Environmentally Sustainable ◽  
Legal Evolution ◽  
Ocean Governance ◽  
Deep Seabed Mining ◽  
Seabed Mining

This chapter examines the key environmental elements of the International Seabed Authority's (ISA) ‘Mining Code’, a regulatory framework for the commercial exploitation of mineral resources. The term ‘Mining Code’ refers to the whole comprehensive set of rules, regulations and procedures issued by the ISA to regulate prospecting, exploration and exploitation of minerals. The set of rules includes the collaboration of the respective responsibilities of deep seabed explorers and of the ISA in order to ensure environmentally sustainable development of deep seabed mineral resources. The chapter first provides an overview of the general regulatory framework for deep seabed mining, which is a contract-based system, before discussing the continuous legal evolution of the Mining Code. It also considers the generic issues that need to be addressed in relation to the future exploitation of minerals and explains why exploitation-related environmental regulations must be an integral component of advancing the Mining Code.

Statement by Expert Panel: U.S. Policy on the Settlement of Disputes in the Law of the Sea

1987 ◽  
Vol 81 (2) ◽  
pp. 438-442 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
International Law ◽  
Expert Panel ◽  
The United States ◽  
Law Of The Sea ◽  
Customary International Law ◽  
The Law ◽  
Deep Seabed Mining ◽  
Settlement Of Disputes ◽  
Seabed Mining

In 1983, President Reagan announced the policy of the United States to accept the normative provisions of the 1982 Convention on the Law of the Sea as reflecting the customary international law of the sea (in matters other than deep seabed mining).

scholarly journals Potential impacts of polymetallic nodule removal on deep-sea meiofauna

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ellen Pape ◽  
Tania Nara Bezerra ◽  
Hendrik Gheerardyn ◽  
Marius Buydens ◽  
Amanda Kieswetter ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mineral Resources ◽  
Taxonomic Composition ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Sampling Effort ◽  
Polymetallic Nodule ◽  
Abundance And Diversity ◽  
Clarion Clipperton Fracture Zone ◽  
Deep Seabed Mining ◽  
Management Recommendations ◽  
Seabed Mining

AbstractDeep seabed mining is potentially imminent in the Clarion Clipperton Fracture Zone (CCFZ; northeast Pacific). Seabed collectors will remove polymetallic nodules and the surrounding surface sediments, both inhabited by meiofauna, along their path. To determine potential impacts of polymetallic nodule removal, we investigated the importance of nodule presence for the abundance, composition and diversity of sediment meiofauna, and evaluated the existence and composition of nodule crevice meiofauna in the Global Sea Mineral Resources (GSR) exploration contract area. Nodule-free and nodule-rich sediments displayed high biodiversity with many singletons and doubletons, potentially representing rare taxa. Nodule presence negatively influenced sediment meiofaunal abundances but did not markedly affect taxonomic composition or diversity. This is the first report on CCFZ nodule crevice meiofauna, whose abundance related positively to nodule dimensions. Though dominated by the same taxa, nodules and sediments differed regarding the taxonomic and trophic composition of the meio- and nematofauna. Nevertheless, there were no taxa endemic to the nodule crevices and nodule crevice meiofauna added only little to total small-scale (~ cm) meiofaunal abundance and diversity. We formulated environmental management recommendations at the contract area and regional (CCFZ) scale related to sampling effort, set-aside preservation and monitoring areas, and potential rehabilitation measures.

scholarly journals Potential Impacts of Polymetallic Nodule Removal On Deep-Sea Meiobenthos

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ellen Pape ◽  
Tania Bezerra ◽  
Hendrik Gheerardyn ◽  
Marius Buydens ◽  
Amanda Kieswetter ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mineral Resources ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Sampling Effort ◽  
Polymetallic Nodule ◽  
Polymetallic Nodules ◽  
Abundance And Diversity ◽  
Clarion Clipperton Fracture Zone ◽  
Deep Seabed Mining ◽  
Management Recommendations ◽  
Seabed Mining

Abstract Deep seabed mining is imminent in the Clarion Clipperton Fracture Zone (CCFZ; northeast Pacific). Seabed collectors will remove the polymetallic nodules and the surrounding surface sediments, both inhabited by meiobenthos, along their path. To determine potential impacts of polymetallic nodule removal, we investigated the importance of nodule presence for sediment abundance, composition and diversity of meiobenthos, nematodes and copepods, and evaluated the existence and composition of nodule crevice meiobenthos in the Global Sea Mineral Resources (GSR) exploration contract area. Nodule-free and nodule-rich sediments displayed high biodiversity with many singletons and doubletons, potentially representing rare taxa. Nodule presence negatively influenced sediment meiobenthic abundances but did not markedly affect community composition or diversity. This is the first report on CCFZ nodule crevice meiobenthos, whose abundance related positively to nodule dimensions. Though dominated by the same taxa, the meio- and nematofauna differed between sediments and nodules regarding community and functional composition. Nevertheless, there were no taxa endemic to the nodule crevices and nodule crevice meiobenthos added only little to total small-scale (~ cm) meiobenthic abundance and diversity. We formulated environmental management recommendations at the contract area and regional (CCFZ) scale related to sampling effort, set-aside preservation and monitoring areas, and potential rehabilitation measures.

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