ISA Technical Study

Seamounts in the central-west Pacific Ocean are known to have thick, cobalt-rich ferromanganese crusts. These are of commercial interest for mining. However, very little is known about the faunal communities on these seamounts, and in particular whether they could be different from those that occur on seamounts which do not have thick cobalt-rich crusts. This study was commissioned by the ISA to assess patterns of community composition and diversity on seamounts with, and without, cobalt-rich crusts, and the factors that determine these patterns.

This is a practical guide for undertaking a molecular survey of deep-sea nematodes including protocols for collecting deep-sea nematodes, preservation and shipping of samples, slide mounting, image capture and the production of individual barcodes.

In 2009, the International Seabed Authority, in conjunction with the Energy, Environment and Development Programme of the Royal Institute of International Affairs (Chatham House) in the United Kingdom, convened a seminar for a group of invited experts to discuss the issues associated with article 82. The present report, which examines the legal and policy issues associated with the implementation of article 82, was originally prepared as a background paper for the seminar, and was subsequently extensively revised to take into account the views expressed by participants in the seminar.

Examines the process for the delineation of the outer continental shelf and speculates on the location and feasibility of extraction of the various non-living resources which may occur in these areas.