Synopsis

TITLE: International control deep sea mineral resources

INTRODUCTION:

Deep inside the ocean is a world as vibrant and rich as the one outside. There are mountain
ranges, ridges, forests, seamounts, volcanoes and a unique ecology that defies common
knowledge. It is barely explored territory is also believed to hold vast quantities of precious
metals and minerals that can sustain the modern world for centuries. Even within
international law the deep sea minerals are somewhat unique. Due to its unique minerals the
UN has established a separate authority, UN's International Seabed Authority (ISA). This
authority grants prospecting, exploring and exploiting minerals over international waters,
which are beyond the limits of national jurisdiction. Only an ISA body or state-owned or
government-sponsored companies can engage in mining-related activities.

RESEARCH QUESTION:

Whether there is criteria regarding the distribution and position of the deep sea minerals?

Whether there are any different views on UNCLOS III and Implementation agreement by
developed and developing nations?

Whether the International Seabed Authority is effective to make decisions in case of

disputes?

SCOPE OF THE PROJECT:

The researcher here in this project is mainly discussing about the minerals found international
beyond the limits of the national jurisdiction. It is discussing mainly about the views of the
nations on laws relating to deep sea minerals and the nations are effectively following them.
It also discuss the powers and decision making capacity of ISA. It also the distribution of the
minerals which are generally treated as the property of the mankind.

OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY:

The objective of the study is to understand the development of deep sea mining in
international law. The position of their distribution and grating permissions for exploring and
exploiting the resources. The laws relating to them and the views of different nations on those
laws. The decision making powers in case of conflict between different nations.
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY:

It is important to know about the deep sea mining because it rather new and it is developing
each day. It is developed only the past decade and everyday new technology is developing for
exploiting these resources. Most of these resources are same minerals available on the land
but they are more unique than they available on land which make them special. So, it is
important to learn about them because they are considered as the common heritage of
mankind and outside the national jurisdiction and they protected by international law unlike
the minerals on land. With increasing technology and new conflicts the laws should also be
developed and it is important to understand them and implement them.

LITERATURE REVIEW:

Antrim, Caitlyn L. "MINERAL RESOURCES OF STATELESS SPACE: LESSONS FROM

THE DEEP SEABED." Journal of International Affairs 59, no. 1 (2005): 55-80. Accessed
September 1, 2020. http://www.jstor.org/stable/24358233.

Fuandez, Julio. "The Sea-Bed Negotiations: Third World Choices." Third World Quarterly 2,
no. 3 (1980): 487-99. Accessed September 1, 2020. http://www.jstor.org/stable/3990926.

Watt, D. C. "The Law of the Sea Conference and the Deep Sea Mining Issue: The Need for
an Agreement." International Affairs (Royal Institute of International Affairs 1944-) 58, no. 1
(1981): 78-94. Accessed September 1, 2020. doi:10.2307/2618276.

Egede, Edwin, and Peter Sutch. "The Law of the Sea: Justice and the Common Heritage of
Mankind." In The Politics of International Law and International Justice, 306-43. Edinburgh:
Edinburgh University Press, 2013. Accessed September 1, 2020.
http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.3366/j.ctt1g0b5vd.12.

Kirton, Allan G., and Stephen C. Vasciannie. "DEEP SEABED MINING UNDER THE
LAW OF THE SEA CONVENTION AND THE IMPLEMENTATION AGREEMENT:
DEVELOPING COUNTRY PERSPECTIVES." Social and Economic Studies 51, no. 2
(2002): 63-115. Accessed September 1, 2020.

Antrim, Caitlyn L. "MINERAL RESOURCES OF STATELESS SPACE: LESSONS FROM

THE DEEP SEABED." Journal of International Affairs 59, no. 1 (2005): 55-80. Accessed
September 1, 2020.

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY: 
The method of review followed is secondary review of information collected secondary
resources. The sources reviewed during research are books, judgments and web sources.
Doctrinal method of research is followed here.