UN Seabed Authority in China after shock Trump announcement
International Seabed Authority in China after shock Trump announcement to unilaterally open up deep sea mining.
Following condemnations from both China and The International Seabed Authority (ISA) last week of US President Donald Trump's decision to unilaterally open deep sea mining, both are working closely together this week on developing a protection plan for the Indian Ocean.
The ISA, a UN body responsible for regulating deep sea mining as well protecting the high seas outside of any country's jurisdiction, is collaborating with the China Deep Ocean Affairs Administration on an expert workshop involving 40 participants from 25 member countries.
The aim is to flesh out what's known as a regional environmental management plan (REMP) for the parts of the Indian Ocean where deep seabed mining is expected to be carried out under the provisional licences already issued by the UN body.
Exploration activity is already taking place in these areas by some contractors in anticipation of deep sea mining regulations being completed this year. The ISA has issued 22 commercial licences for various zones where critical minerals are available in abundance. However it has not completed the regulations that would allow exploitation of the seabed minerals to begin.
The meeting this week, which runs until Thursday, in China includes government officials, contractors, and scientists from ISA member countries, as well as members of the ISA's Legal and Technical Commission.
The decision to develop REMPS was mad in 2018 at the ISA's 24th session. Areas to be protected as a matter of priority include the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, the Indian Ocean triple junction ridge and nodule-bearing province, as well as the North-west Pacific and South Atlantic for seamounts.
Following Trump's announcement this week, the regulator insisted it was the only body able to issue licences or govern the high seas.
China, which holds most of the ISA-issued provisional licences, with five, also condemned Trump's announcement as a breach of international law.
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