Navigating the Deep

The legal regime for access to and regulation of seabed exploration and exploitation in the Area, once seen as a pioneering framework for ocean governance, now stands at a crossroads. The growing pressure for resource exploitation, coupled with divergent interpretations of treaty obligations, risks undermining the legal and ethical underpinnings of the sustainable management of the international seabed area. By discussing the contemporary debates on international law and sustainable development, this book offers an authoritative perspective on the regime’s future relevance and resilience.

The chapters in the book cover following themes:

Overview of the legal regimes for the Area
The Evolution of Ocean Governance: From UNCLOS to Today
Stewardship vs. Exploitation: Competing Narratives in the Area
Unilateralism challenging Multilateral Ocean Governance
Expanding Expectations for UNCLOS: Legal and Policy Implications
Calls for a moratorium: Debates and Implications
Proposals for a Resilient Management Regime
Recommendations for the future


Contributors to the volume: 
Leading experts in the fields of law, policy, administration, science and practice in the field of ocean governance for seabed resources from around the world. 

Audience for work:
Regulators, Policy makers, Researchers, Academicians, Private Companies associated with exploration, exploitation and regulation of seabed resources.