Seabed Mining
Regulatory and Governance Framework for an Emerging Ocean Industry
Seabed Mining
The Seabed Mining Program focuses on the regulatory and governance framework for an emerging ocean industry: mining the deep seabed for minerals, such as copper and manganese. This emerging industry raises several equity questions, including who stands to benefit, who would shoulder the environmental, social, cultural, and economic burdens, and who gets a say in the decision-making around seabed mining.
The international seabed is designated as the “common heritage of humankind” and must be managed for the benefit of all. With this legal status in mind, the Seabed Mining Program collaborates with governments, civil society organisations, industry, and academia to work towards an inclusive, transparent, and robust management of the seabed.
Recent Publications
Undermining by Mining? Deep Seabed Mining in Light of International Marine Environmental Law
Some forty years ago, the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982 (UNCLOS) created an unusual regime for states to collectively manage common natural resources on the international seabed beyond national jurisdiction (known as “the Area”) through the International Seabed Authority (ISA). In the intervening years, scientists have increasingly been warning about the serious environmental risks of mining seabed minerals. At this pivotal point in time, when states are negotiating whether or not to allow seabed mining, this essay explores the risk of undermining by mining, that is, contravening international marine environmental law and the obligations and responsibilities of states thereunder by allowing commercial mining activities to commence.
On the Cultural Stakes of Deep Seabed Mining
Ownership over the deep seabed and its mineral riches was unsettled until well into the twentieth century. Yet, by the 1960s, a remarkable spirit of universalism prevailed. States declared the deep seabed to be the common heritage of [hu]mankind, determining that its exploitation and protection would require collective management.
Deep Seabed Mining Lacks Social Legitimacy
The impacts of deep seabed mining on people have not been sufficiently researched or addressed. Using a legitimacy framework, authors discuss the social-equity dimensions of this emerging industry in the ocean commons.