Question

The illustration shows one of the ways resources are removed from the deep sea. There are many confusing regulations that limit what and how this can be done. Discuss some of the reasons why these regulations are not standardized yet, and include two possible environmental impacts of these regulations.

Answer 1

The United Nations Conventions on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) declares that seabed area, which does not fall under the jurisdiction of a particular country, is a common natural heritage. The minerals of this area can be usd by anyone. Due to vast presence of sea area, and conflicting boundaries, as well as illegal mininig practices, the imposition of such laws is difficult. The very large sea areas which should not be mined, should be restrained under non mining region. But, mineral-greedy nations are not following such instructions.
The envrionmental implications of ilegal seabed mining includes, destabilisation of oceanic systems, effect on microbial systems of the sea, and danger to the creatures living in the hydrothermal vents, which are not used to light exposure.