With 26 leases granted for deep seabed mineral exploration in the international seabed Area and many more within national waters, deep seabed mining is no longer the stuff of science fiction. The International Seabed Authority, the organization charged with administering international seabed mining activities on behalf of humankind, has just begun to consider regulations to govern exploitation of seabed minerals, starting with manganese nodules.

This weekend workshop will explore the relevant principles, rules and regulations already in place for deep seabed mining-related activities, learn what makes the deep seabed different from coastal and terrestrial environments, and discuss options for translating the principle of the “common heritage of mankind” introduced by UNCLOS, together with modern concepts of precaution and ecosystem-based management, into practical rules and standards to guide future seabed mining. Students will review these issues from a variety of stakeholder perspectives and develop proposals to inform discussions at the International Seabed Authority.