International Law and Corporate Actors in Deep Seabed Mining

The deep seabed beyond national jurisdiction (Area) is home to valuable commodities and is attracting increasing corporate investment. This book examines the legal challenges this activity will raise, including common management, benefit-sharing, marine environmental protection, and investment protection. The International Seabed Authority is responsible for regulating the Area under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Format: Hardback
Length: 320 pages
Publication date: 08 July 2021
Publisher: Oxford University Press

The vast expanse of the deep seabed, extending beyond national jurisdiction (referred to as the Area), encompasses nearly three-quarters of the Earth's ocean surface. Within this remarkable realm, an abundance of precious commodities, including invaluable metals and rare earth elements, thrive. In recent years, there has been a notable surge in deep seabed investment by private corporate entities, accompanied by a growing drive towards their exploitation. This book aims to address the numerous unresolved legal complexities that this escalating corporate activity will entail in the years to come, particularly in areas such as common management, benefit-sharing, marine environmental protection, and investment protection. Operating under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the International Seabed Authority assumes the responsibility of regulating the Area for the collective benefit of humanity and awarding mining contracts. A product of its historical context, the UNCLOS deep seabed regime represents a unique blend of capitalist and communist values, embracing the involvement of private actors while upholding principles of resource distribution. As technological advancements continue to outpace legal developments, this book examines the interplay between corporate commercial activities in the Area and the preservation of the common heritage.

Weight: 646g
Dimension: 165 x 241 x 27 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780192898265