Thirty years after its creation, the International Seabed Authority finds itself at a crossroads. Charged with protecting the ocean floor while overseeing its potential exploitation, the ISA is now racing to establish rules for deep-sea mining before the gold rush begins. Can it succeed in safeguarding the deep?
The International Seabed Authority marked its 30th anniversary by advancing laws to protect underwater ecosystems from rare mineral mining.
ISA: Rulers of the Deep Waters?
The International Seabed Authority (ISA) is an autonomous international organization established under the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). And the 1994 Agreement relating to the Implementation of Part XI of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (1994 Agreement).
ISA is the organization through which States Parties to UNCLOS organize and control all mineral-resources-related activities in the Area for the benefit of humankind as a whole. In so doing, ISA has the mandate to ensure the effective protection of the marine environment from harmful effects that may arise from deep-seabed-related activities.
ISA: New Deep-Sea Rules
1.Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs):
ISA mandates EIAs with baseline studies, monitoring, and mitigation plans before exploitation to minimize environmental impacts. The EIA process also involves external review by experts and stakeholder consultation.
2.Regional Environmental Management Plans (REMPs):
Experts are developing REMPs for specific mineral provinces to ensure sufficient protection of the marine environment.
These plans will include measures to maintain regional biodiversity, ecosystem structure, and function.
3.Areas of Particular Environmental Interest (APEIs):
The ISA is identifying and designating APEIs as no-mining areas to protect vulnerable ecosystems. Experts base these areas on recommendations and may adjust them as more scientific information becomes available.
4.Public Access to Information:
The ISA is committed to ensuring public access to environmental information, including data from contractors, to promote transparency and stakeholder participation.
5. Precautionary Approach:
Many stakeholders are urging authorities to adopt a precautionary approach to marine mining, possibly pausing activities until impacts are understood and regulations established.
The Pelagic Zone Mining Rush
Mining in the deep sea is the process of retrieving mineral deposits from the seabed, the ocean below 200m. The push to cut carbon emissions has sharply increased demand for copper, cobalt, nickel, and other energy transition minerals. By 2040, demand for metals in EVs, solar panels, and wind turbines will double, says the International Energy Agency.
Environmental Concerns and Scientific Research
Experts expect copper demand to double from 25 million tonnes in 2020 to 50 million by 2050.
Supporters argue, marine mining is less destructive than land mining, which would cause greater environmental damage if expanded.
Critics say deep sea mining causes irreversible harm to marine life and won’t replace destructive land-based mining.
The digging and gauging of the ocean floor by machines can alter or destroy marine habitats. This causes species loss, including unique ones, and disrupts or fragments ecosystem structure and function.
Deep-sea mining causes the most direct impact, and the resulting damage is likely permanent.
Noise, vibrations, and light pollution from mining equipment and vessels, along with fuel and toxic spills, could affect whales, tuna, and sharks.
A recent study looking at drilling tests in Japan, showed animal populations decrease where mining occurs and it leaves a wider footprint than previously thought. There is also the risk of leaks and spills of fuel and other chemicals used.
The time to act is now. The ISA must uphold its commitment to protect the deep ocean from potential harms of ocean extraction.
Stricter regulations, robust enforcement, and a greater emphasis on scientific research are essential to safeguard this vital ecosystem for future generations. The oceans, and indeed, the planet, are depending on it.
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