Oceanography

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 volume has been compiled to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO, which for half a century has been the UN organization responsible for fostering intergovernmental cooperation on global ocean science. It draws on the experience of 30 international experts to look at how governments use science to establish ocean policies, with chapters ranging from the history of ocean management to current advances in marine science, observation and management applications, and the international agencies that coordinate this work.