Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is an integral component of planning, development, and management of various industrial activities. It is widely implemented in many national jurisdictions and industrial developments. [1] However, the application of EIA and related environmental management frameworks remains underdeveloped for deep-sea mining. [2] [3]
Conducting EIAs for deep-sea mining is challenging due to the fragile and unique nature of deep-sea ecosystems, insufficient scientific knowledge, and technological limitations. [4] The deep sea remains poorly understood, with limited baseline data on its biodiversity and environmental conditions. [5] Many species are slow-growing and highly sensitive to disturbance, and the long-term impacts of mining activities, such as habitat destruction, sediment plumes, and noise pollution, remain difficult to predict. [6] The extreme conditions of the deep sea, including high pressure and low temperatures, make data collection and monitoring costly and technically demanding. [7] Governance issues also arise, as the formulation of EIA standards for seabed mining beyond national jurisdictions requires complex international coordination between actors with contradicting interests. [8] Furthermore, the potential for irreversible and cumulative impacts on marine ecosystems underscores the need for stronger monitoring, scientific research, and precautionary measures compared to terrestrial projects. [9]
The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) outlines general duties for states to safeguard the marine environment (Articles 145, 192) and specifies in Article 206 that planned activities with the potential to cause significant harm must undergo an assessment of their potential effects, with findings duly reported. [10] UNCLOS does not specify detailed requirements for conducting such assessments, leaving the exact interpretation ambiguous. [11]
The International Seabed Authority (ISA) plays a central role in developing the legal framework for EIAs in deep-sea mining, viewing EIA as essential for minimizing environmental impacts. [12] The ISA aims to fulfill obligations such as implementing a precautionary approach and ensuring effective protection of the marine environment, as required under UNCLOS Part XI, Article 145 [13] . Although processes and forms remain incomplete, [14] the EIA regulations of ISA define governing bodies, licensing frameworks, and permitting processes.
Deep-sea mining remains in the exploratory phase, with no fully developed commercial projects; however, several contractors operating under the ISA framework have conducted EIAs for exploratory and pilot-scale mining activities:
Since its establishment, the International Seabed Authority (ISA) has implemented measures to assess the environmental impacts of deep-sea mining activities at various stages, in line with its obligations under Article 145 of UNCLOS. [16] ISA has provided guidelines to contractors for conducting environmental impact assessments related to mineral exploration in the Area. [17] [18] [19] These guidelines outline general procedures for collecting baseline data and conducting monitoring during and after exploration activities. [19]
During the prospecting potential mining areas, no prior contact to the ISA is necessary in theory. However, all three mineral deposits in the area are covered under the ISA Exploration Regulation which obligates relevant parties to notify the ISA of its intention to initiate prospecting activities. [20] [21] [22] For the next phase of exploration applicants are required to submit a 5-year work plan as well as a preliminary assessment of possible environmental impacts. [20] [21] [23] The submission is confidentially assessed by the Legal and Technical Commission (LTC) of the ISA. The LTC then provide recommendations consisting of a list of activities that may be conducted during the exploration phase. [24]
During the exploration phase, contractors, sponsoring States, and other relevant parties are mandated to collaborate with the ISA in establishing and executing monitoring and evaluation programs to address the environmental impacts of deep-sea mining. [22] In accordance with the LTC Recommendations, exploration contractors planning activities classified by the ISA as potentially causing significant harm to the marine environment must submit Environmental Plans. This includes an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) at least 12 months before commencing such activities, [24] a Closure Plan, and a Monitoring Plan. [25] Following a consultation and review process from LTC, the Secretary General, members of the ISA, and other stakeholders, the LTC will proceed with evaluating the application for the approval of a plan of work and submit its recommendation to the Council on whether to approve or reject the application. [25]
Under the current draft exploitation regulations, contractors awarded an exploitation contract must submit a feasibility study at least 12 months before commencing commercial production. Based on the feasibility study, contractors may need to amend their approved plan of work if a "material change" occurs. [25] Additionally, contractors can independently request modifications to their plan of work, with any "material change" requiring a formal approval process by the ISA. [25]
Conducting comprehensive EIAs for deep-sea mining is particularly challenging due to the limited availability of data. The remote location and challenging conditions of the deep sea—such as high pressure and low temperatures—make exploration costly and reliant on advanced technologies. [26] Within both national borders and in international waters the deep sea is poorly studied, and specific locations are entirely unexplored. [27] Especially the understanding of deep-sea ecosystems, their connections to other parts of the ocean, and their function within Earth's systems. [14] Limited data leaves the potential impacts of mining and strategies for mitigating them largely speculative. [28]
The ISA's EIA procedures have been criticized for lacking comprehensiveness and procedural rigor: [14] [2]
The International Seabed Authority (ISA) is a Kingston, Jamaica-based intergovernmental body of 167 member states and the European Union. It was established under the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and its 1994 Agreement on Implementation. The ISA's dual mission is to authorize and control the development of mineral related operations in the international seabed, which is considered the "common heritage of all mankind", and to protect the ecosystem of the seabed, ocean floor and subsoil in "The Area" beyond national jurisdiction. The ISA is responsible for safeguarding the international deep sea, defined as waters below 200 meters, where photosynthesis is hampered by inadequate light. Governing approximately half of the total area of the world's oceans, the ISA oversees activities that might threaten biological diversity and harm the marine environment.
The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), also called the Law of the Sea Convention or the Law of the Sea Treaty, is an international treaty that establishes a legal framework for all marine and maritime activities. As of October 2024, 169 sovereign states and the European Union are parties.
Polymetallic nodules, also called manganese nodules, are mineral concretions on the sea bottom formed of concentric layers of iron and manganese hydroxides around a core. As nodules can be found in vast quantities, and contain valuable metals, deposits have been identified as a potential economic interest. Depending on their composition and authorial choice, they may also be called ferromanganese nodules. Ferromanganese nodules are mineral concretions composed of silicates and insoluble iron and manganese oxides that form on the ocean seafloor and terrestrial soils. The formation mechanism involves a series of redox oscillations driven by both abiotic and biotic processes. As a byproduct of pedogenesis, the specific composition of a ferromanganese nodule depends on the composition of the surrounding soil. The formation mechanisms and composition of the nodules allow for couplings with biogeochemical cycles beyond iron and manganese. The high relative abundance of nickel, copper, manganese, and other rare metals in nodules has increased interest in their use as a mining resource.
Law of the sea is a body of international law governing the rights and duties of states in maritime environments. It concerns matters such as navigational rights, sea mineral claims, and coastal waters jurisdiction. The connotation of ocean law is somewhat broader, but the law of the sea is so comprehensive that it covers all areas of ocean law as well.
The seabed is the bottom of the ocean. All floors of the ocean are known as 'seabeds'.
Marine geology or geological oceanography is the study of the history and structure of the ocean floor. It involves geophysical, geochemical, sedimentological and paleontological investigations of the ocean floor and coastal zone. Marine geology has strong ties to geophysics and to physical oceanography.
Deep sea mining is the extraction of minerals from the seabed of the deep sea. The main ores of commercial interest are polymetallic nodules, which are found at depths of 4–6 km (2.5–3.7
Nii Allotey Odunton, a mining engineer from Ghana, was the Secretary-General of the International Seabed Authority, serving consecutive four-year terms starting in 2009 and ending in 2017.
The United States was among the nations that participated in the third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea, which took place from 1974 through 1982 and resulted in the international treaty known as the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). The United States also participated in the subsequent negotiations of modifications to the treaty from 1990 to 1994. The UNCLOS came into force in 1994. Although the United States now recognizes the UNCLOS as a codification of customary international law, it has not ratified it.
Nautilus Minerals Inc. was a Canadian deep sea exploration and mining company founded in 1997, and listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange between 2007 and 2019. The company was known for Solwara-1, the first deep sea mining project, an attempt to explore and mine a mineral deposit on the seabed off the coast of Papua New Guinea. By 2019, the company had faced bankruptcy and was delisted due to long-standing environmental concerns about the project and financial turmoil, resulting in its assets being owned by Deep Sea Mining Finance Limited.
The Clarion–Clipperton zone (CCZ) or Clarion–Clipperton fracture zone is an environmental management area of the Pacific Ocean, administered by the International Seabed Authority (ISA). It includes the Clarion fracture zone and the Clipperton fracture zone, geological submarine fracture zones. Clarion and Clipperton are two of the five major lineations of the northern Pacific floor, and were discovered by the Scripps Institution of Oceanography in 1954. The CCZ is regularly considered for deep-sea mining due to the abundant presence of manganese nodules.
Ocean governance is the conduct of the policy, actions and affairs regarding the world's oceans. Within governance, it incorporates the influence of non-state actors, i.e. stakeholders, NGOs and so forth, therefore the state is not the only acting power in policy making. However, ocean governance is complex because much of the ocean is a commons that is not ‘owned’ by any single person or nation/state. There is a belief more strongly in the US than other countries that the “invisible hand” is the best method to determine ocean governance factors. These include factors such as what resources we consume, what price we should pay for them, and how we should use them. The underlying reasoning behind this is the market has to have the desire in order to promote environmental protection, however this is rarely the case. This term is referred to as a market failure. Market failures and government failures are the leading causes of ocean governance complications. As a result, humankind has tended to overexploit marine resources, by treating them as shared resources while not taking equal and collective responsibilities in caring for them.
High seas fisheries management refers to the governance and regulation of fishing activities in areas beyond national jurisdiction, often referred to as the 'high seas'.1 The 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the 1995 United Nations Fish Stock Agreement (UNFSA) provide the international legal framework for the regulation of fishing activities in areas beyond national jurisdiction. The United Nations Fish Stock Agreement delegates responsibility for conservation and management of fish stocks to regional fisheries management organizations (RFMOs) each governing a geographical area of the high seas.
The marine policy of the Barack Obama administration comprises several significant environmental policy decisions for the oceans made during his two terms in office from 2009 to 2017. By executive action, US President Barack Obama increased fourfold the amount of protected marine space in waters under United States control, setting a major precedent for global ocean conservation. Using the U.S. president's authority under the Antiquities Act of 1906, he expanded to 200 nautical miles the seaward limits of Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument in Hawaiʻi and the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument around the U.S. island possessions in the Central Pacific. In the Atlantic, Obama created the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument, the first marine monument in the U.S. exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the Atlantic.
Sustainable Development Goal 14 is about "Life below water" and is one of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals established by the United Nations in 2015. The official wording is to "Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development". The Goal has ten targets to be achieved by 2030. Progress towards each target is being measured with one indicator each.
Seabed mining, also known as Seafloor mining is the recovery of minerals from the seabed by techniques of underwater mining. The concept includes mining at shallow depths on the continental shelf and deep-sea mining at greater depths associated with tectonic activity, hydrothermal vents and the abyssal plains. The increased requirement for minerals and metals used in the technology sector has led to a renewed interest in the mining of seabed mineral resources, including massive polymetallic sulfide deposits around hydrothermal vents, cobalt-rich crusts on the sides of seamounts and fields of manganese nodules on the abyssal plains. While the seabed provides a high concentration of valuable minerals, there is an unknown risk of ecological damage on marine species because of a lack of data.
The United Nations agreement on biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction or BBNJ Agreement, also referred to by some stakeholders as the High Seas Treaty or Global Ocean Treaty, is a legally binding instrument for the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction. There is some controversy over the popularized name of the agreement. It is an agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). The text was finalised during an intergovernmental conference at the UN on 4 March 2023 and adopted on 19 June 2023. Both states and regional economic integration organizations can become parties to the treaty.
Namibia is one of the first countries that issued mining licences regarding deep sea mining. studies that took place in 1970s discovered considerable amounts of phosphate deposits. The significance of seabed mining in Namibia's blue economy is highlighted by the country's status as a "phosphate factory". This is due to the exceptional upwellings of the Benguela Current ecosystem, a transboundary ocean current that spans from South Africa in the south to Angola in the north, passing through Namibia. Those deposits were found in depths between 180 and 300 meters below the sea level. In 2011 the Namibian government issued licences regarding the exploitation of the seabed phosphate resources after the necessary Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs). The action plan that stood out was that of Namibian Marine Phosphates (NMP), a joint venture formed in 2008 between two Australian-based companies, Minemakers and Union Resources and Namibian-based Tungeni Investments. The so-called Sandpiper phosphate mining project outlay was introduced in January 2012 along with environmental reports regarding the effect this operation would have on marine life as well as the fishing industry and water quality changes. Those phosphorite resources are being found in continental shelves and slopes in America, Northern Spain, Morocco, Namibia, and South Africa which show a high potential for exploration.
On 25 June 2021, the president of Nauru, Lionel Aingimea, made a formal request to the president of the International Seabed Authority's (ISA) council to complete the adoption of rules, regulations and procedures necessary to facilitate the approval of plans of work for exploitation of deep-sea resources in the Area. This request is based on the "2-year rule", which is part of a provision from the 1994 Agreement relating to the Implementation of Part XI of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. The provision can be found in section 1 of the annex, and it states that the ISA must complete the adoption of rules, regulations and procedures for the approval of the exploitation of deep-sea minerals within 2 years of the request. The ISA's current deadline for drafting new regulation is set in July 2023, although some claim that this is not a "hard" or "fixed" deadline. Due to the issue's complexity, negotiations have thus far failed to come to a concrete agreement. Even if it fails to set clear standards for deep-sea mining activities, the ISA must consider applications for exploitation in waters outside national jurisdictions and provisionally approve contracts after July 2023. Many experts fear that deep-sea mining activities that are not adequately regulated could significantly impact the marine environment, the economies of many nations and the livelihoods of indigenous groups who depend on the oceans for survival.
The "Upholding the Common Heritage of Humankind" is a historical speech delivered to the International Seabed Authority Assembly, on July 29th, 2024, by President Surangel S. Whipps Jr. of Palau. In this speech the President of Palau emphasized the historical significance of 1994, marking both Palau’s independence and the ratification of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.