International Seabed Authority

Fig. 7.5 Extent of the general Pacific area under prospecting for manganese nodule mining. The shaded sectors have either been allocated to, reserved for or claimed by pioneer investors and consortia. Maps courtesy of the International Seabed Authority, http //www.isa.org.jm.

Demidova, T. (1999) The physical environment in nodule provinces of the deep sea, in Deep-seabed Polymetallic Nodule Exploration Development of Environmental Guidelines, International Seabed Authority, Kingston, pp. 79-116. 

The main problem with exploitation of deep-sea deposits is their depth they tend to occur in water which is several kilometers deep. It is evident that this entails substantial technical difficulties. The exploitation of these deposits, outside the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of coastal and island states (200 miles offshore) is under the supervision of the International Seabed Authority (ISA 2015). 

Hong, S., Kim, K.-H. (1999). Research and development of deep seabed mining technologies for Polymetallic nodules in Korea. Proceedings, proposed techniques for deep seabed mining of polymetallic nodules, Kingston, International. Seabed Authority, 261-283. 

Nawab, Z. (2001). Atlantis II Deep A future deep sea mining site. Proceedings, proposed technologies for mining deep-seabed polymetallic nodules, Kingston, International Seabed Authority, 301-313. 

---