Private companies are taking a major step towards exploiting the potential riches of the deep sea by pushing for licenses to commercially mine the ocean floor. In an effort to make this endeavor possible, the International Seabed Authority (ISA) – the organization created to protect the deep sea – is helping these companies in their mission.
The ISA was established back in 1982 as a result of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). The organization works to ensure that all activities regarding marine mining in international waters are conducted responsibly and sustainably. It does this by carefully regulating and overseeing all activities, including prospecting permits, research plans and contracts for exploration.
The deep sea holds vast potential, with numerous minerals and valuable resources existing at its depths. Precious metals such as gold, silver, manganese and cobalt can be extracted from mineral-rich deposits found beneath the ocean floor. Other lucrative sources include methane hydrate deposits – a crystalline form of natural gas found trapped within ice particles submerged beneath the seabed’s surface.
Thanks to technological advances over recent years, these resources are now within reach more than ever before. Companies have started tapping into these reserves, hoping to make big profits while also protecting against depletion of land-based minerals. With growing demand for these resources across industries ranging from energy production to electronics manufacturing, commercial mining is expected to become increasingly popular over time.
To learn more about this important issue, we recommend watching “Mining The Deep: The Race To Unlock Ocean Riches” – an eye-opening documentary that provides insight into this rapidly evolving industry and examines its implications for society as well as our environment. As awareness of this new technology grows, it’s important for us to stay informed about how it will affect us all in the future – watch this documentary today!
