When the International Seabed Authority begins accepting applications for deep-sea mining operations in the coming weeks, there will remain a lingering question. How much control will authorities have over operations to ensure environmental protection of marine habitats far from coastlines, or will it turn into a wild high seas free-for-all? The answer seems to be: the new High Seas Treaty is powerless. The International Seabed Authority, established under the United Nations (UN) Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982, regulates and controls all mineral-related activities on seabeds in international waters and is currently negotiating a mining code to establish the rules under which companies will be allowed to extract minerals from the seabed.

Rusli, M. H. M. (2023, July 17). High seas treaty too late to stop seabed mining. Philippine Daily Inquirer, p. A11.