Does the International Community Have Efforts to Protect the Marine Environment from Seabed Mining? (original) (raw)
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International Law and the Regulation of Deep Sea Bed Mining
Since J. L. Mero published his seminal work: “The Mineral Resources of the Sea”, in 1965, there has been a growing interest in the exploitation of sea bed mineral resources. Research has indicated that the ocean floor contains vast quantities of valuable minerals, including tin, diamonds, silica sands, phosphorite, manganese nodules, cobalt-rich crusts, and seafloor massive sulphides. The sheer volume of these deposits is overwhelming, especially when compared with the land-based cache of the same resources. However, the development of an effective regime for the exploitation of these newfound metals has proved a difficult problem for the international community. Firstly, nations had long since, become used to the freedom of the high seas. Nevertheless, while the medieval freedom of the seas doctrine of Hugo Grotius would certainly lead to the overexploitation of sea bed resources which had taken millions of years to accumulate, it was nonetheless, advanced by the developed countries which had the technology and the wherewithal to undertake exploration activities subsea. On the other hand, Third World nations considered it necessary to conserve these exhaustible resources for the benefit of all peoples, including present and future generations of mankind. This led to the adoption of the Common Heritage of Mankind principle affirmed by earlier treaty systems on the outer space and the arctic region, and also the establishment of an international agency to manage sea bed resources for all nations. After many years of negotiation, the Law of the Sea Convention was adopted in 1982 to provide a comprehensive framework for the oceans. It is the world charter for the exploration and exploitation of ocean resources. Sea bed mining would invariably lead to the destruction of the marine ecosystem. The discussion also undertakes an analysis of the regime for the protection of the marine environment.
Sustainable Seabed Mining and the Phase 1 Environmental Standards and Guidelines
Australian Yearbook of International Law, 2023
The oceans are home to a rich diversity of plant and animal life and a source of food and marine resources that drive economies. Climate change and pollution are changing ocean dynamics and the ability to support life. Seabed mining in areas beyond national jurisdiction will add to the ocean's stressors and could cause severe environmental damage. The International Seabed Authority (“ISA”) is mandated to manage access to and benefits from the seabed, its subsoil and mineral resources in areas beyond national jurisdiction (the “Area”). Although the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea sets out the legal framework for developing the Area and its resources, it does so in broad terms and leaves substantial gaps. These gaps include the scope of activities in the Area, the interrelationship of international obligations, the division of responsibilities between the ISA and sponsoring states, and the regulation of the mining system in situ. To partially fill these gaps, the ISA has drafted a set of “Phase 1” Standards and Guidelines under the Draft Regulations on Exploitation of Mineral Resources in the Area. This paper investigates and critiques five environmental Draft Standards from a precautionary and comparative law perspective. Phase 1 standards and guidelines should adopt a more rigorous interpretation of the precautionary principle. Additional recommendations include creating enhanced governance processes and incorporating an ecosystem-based framework for regional environmental assessments and management plans not present in Draft Standards. This research will assist academics, practitioners, governments, and the ISA with policies and strategies to enhance environmental and social protections from seabed mining.
Integrated environmental assessment and management, 2018
Deep-sea mining refers to the retrieval of marine mineral resources such as manganese nodules, ferromanganese crusts and seafloor massive sulfide deposits, which contain a variety of metals that serve as crucial raw materials for a range of applications, from electronic devices to renewable energy technologies to construction materials. With the intent of decreasing dependence on imports, supporting the economy and potentially even overcoming the environmental problems related to conventional terrestrial mining, a number of public and private institutions have re-discovered their interest in exploring the prospects of deep-sea mining, which had been deemed economically and technically unfeasible in the early 1980 s. To date, many national and international research projects are grappling to understand the economic environmental, social and legal implications of potential commercial deep-sea mining operations: a challenging endeavor due to the complexity of direct impacts and spill-o...
INTERNATIONAL LAW AND THE REGULATION OF DEEP SEA BED MINING by
A38 Journal of International Law , 0
Since J. L. Mero published his seminal work: "The Mineral Resources of the Sea", in 1965, there has been a growing interest in the exploitation of sea bed mineral resources. Research has indicated that the ocean floor contains vast quantities of valuable minerals, including tin, diamonds, silica sands, phosphorite, manganese nodules, cobalt-rich crusts, and seafloor massive sulphides. The sheer volume of these deposits is overwhelming, especially when compared with the land-based cache of the same resources. However, the development of an effective regime for the exploitation of these newfound metals has proved a difficult problem for the international community. Firstly, nations had long since, become used to the freedom of the high seas. Nevertheless, while the medieval freedom of the seas doctrine of Hugo Grotius would certainly lead to the overexploitation of sea bed resources which had taken millions of years to accumulate, it was nonetheless, advanced by the developed countries which had the technology and the wherewithal to
A review of seabed mining: current developments and environmental impacts
Currently, there are a range of mining operations in the shallow seabed, including diamond mining in Namibia and Tin mining in Indonesia. Due to rising demand for minerals and metals and declining land-based resources, there has been a recent surge of interest in exploration of both shallow and deep sea resources. However, there are environmental concerns with mining the seabed. Only a fraction of the deep sea has been scientifically studied to date and there have been no commercial scale mining trials so far. Nonetheless, given the nature, scale and locations of proposed seabed mining activities serious and, in some cases, widespread negative impacts on habitats and marine life can reasonably be expected. Marine habitats which are being explored for prospective mining include hydrothermal vents (deep sea geysers) which host a unique biodiversity; seamounts (underwater mountains) which support an abundant and rich biodiversity; and manganese nodules which take millions of years to form and support sponges and other marine life. There are conservation concerns regarding the destruction of these habitats by mining, the resulting loss of biodiversity and the uncertainty that habitats and biodiversity may not recover once mining has ceased.
Deep Sea Mining: A New Frontier for International Environmental Law
PsycEXTRA Dataset
This paper intends to explore the main issues of the recent Deep Sea mining rush, which indeed raises huge strategic, geopolitical and environmental concerns. It notes that most of these concerns are significantly linked to the obvious insufficiency of international regulation regarding seabed exploitation. It concludes by stressing the need to implement as soon as possible a global regulation dimension under the Economic Exclusive Zone's regime.
Seabed Mining and Approaches to Governance of the Deep Seabed
Frontiers in Marine Science
Commercial seabed mining seems imminent, highlighting the urgent need for coherent, effective policy to safeguard the marine environment. Reconciling seabed mining with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals will be difficult because minerals extraction will have irreversible consequences that could lead to the loss of habitats, species and ecosystems services. A dialog needs to take place around social, cultural, environmental and economic costs and benefits. Governance of human interactions with the seabed is fragmented and lacks transparency, with a heavy focus on facilitating exploitation rather than ensuring protection. In the light of high uncertainties and high stakes, we present a critical review of proposed policy options for the regulation of seabed mining activities, recommend actions to improve seabed governance and outline the alternatives to mining fragile deep-sea ecosystems.
Seabed Mining: Advisory Opinion on Responsibility and Liability
Environmental Policy and Law, 2011
0378-777X/11/$27.50 © 2011 IOS Press that making UNEP a specialised agency would heighten its role and influence in sustainable development while others believed that member States must draw on alreadyexisting expertise. At the conclusion of the meeting, the co-chairs proposed a draft negotiating document to be transmitted to CSD-19, outlining the process for reaching a final document in 2012. The draft was adopted by consensus7 and the delegates appeared satisfied that, although much work remains to be done, both for Rio+20 and for implementing sustainable development, PrepCom 2 had made progress. Notes 1 Member States will decide on the structure and content of the 10YFP on SCP at CSD-19 in May 2011. For more information, see http://www.un.org/esa/dsd/csd/ csd_multyearprogwork.shtml. 2 See http://www.un.org/esa/dsd/csd/csd\_pdfs/csd-19/IPM-Organization-ofWork.pdf. 3 Mauritius Strategy for the Further Implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small...
American Journal of International Law, 1985
lawfulness of deep seabed mining-buysellposts.co PDF 1 See generally 1 T. KnoNmiLLER, THE LAWFULNESS OF DEEP SEABED AIDNNG alia, the regulation of deep seabed mining beyond the reach of national The Lawfulness of Deep Seabed Mining. 3 vols. Vols. I and II 1980 Handbook on Ocean Politics & Law-Google Books Result The lawfulness of deep seabed mining-MiHi Great Danes Deep sea mining: Charting the risks of a new frontier-Lars Bevanger. Can deep-sea mining avoid the environmental mistakes of mining on land?-Carol J. Biological responses to disturbance from simulated deep-sea. Published: 1979 The lawfulness of deep seabed mining. The law of deep sea-bed mining: a study of the progressive development of international law concerning the management of the polymetallic nodules of the deep sea-bed by Said Intelligence Bureau India-Wikipedia number of questions. First, the passage of these unilateral domestic laws on deep-seabed mining beyond the limits of national jurisdiction has deepened the deep seabed mining-HeinOnline The Lawfulness Of Deep Seabed Mining by Theodore G. Kronmiller. Dispute Settlement in the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea-Google Books Result The lawfulness of deep seabed mining ? Theodore G. Kronmiller. Author. Kronmiller, Theodore G., 1948-. Published. Washington, D.C.?: National Oceanic Calculation for everything from Production to Mining, Sience and Reaction in EvE Online. a successful This Deep Core Mining industry skill, EVE Online, the EVE logo, LLCs are permitted to engage in any lawful, for-profit business or activity Sparkling waters of the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean gently lap Deep Seabed Mining UNCLOSdebate.org And if deep seabed mining is undertaken, it can only be expected to augment, and. 25 T.G. Kronmiller, The Lawfulness of Deep Seabed Mining, 1980 1981 The Changelog #221: How We Got Here with Cory Doctorow News. The lawfulness of deep seabed mining. benefit of the world c o m m u n i t y, but primarily the least developed and geographically disadvantaged states. The U.S.