International Seabed Authority's Function In The Protection Of The Marine Environment In The Area

With the increasing demand for human resources and the continuous development of marine science and technology,it has been found that mineral resources with great value are detected in the international seabed area,which is the seabed,the sea and its subsoil beyond the national jurisdiction(hereinafter referred to as the Area).However,the seabed mining operation will have a profound impact on or even damage the environment.At present,the study of marine environment and deep-sea science is still deficient.The Area environmental protection is imperative.the International Seabed Authority(hereinafter referred to as ISA)is an antonomous international organization established under the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the 1994 Agreement relating to the Implementation of Part XI of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.ISA has the right in the resources of the Area,as well as the function of marine environmental protection.ISA is authorized to take the responsibility for the protection of the marine environment.It should adopt appropriate rules,regulations and procedures for the development of the Area mineral resources and the protection and preservation of the marine environment.According to the provision of Article 133 of the United Nations Convention on the law of the sea,'the resources means all solid,liquid or gaseous mineral resources'.Therefore,this paper only focuses on the development of mineral resources in the Area,not includes the other resources,such as the seabed biological resources and genetic resources.This paper discusses ISA's responsibilities and functions of the environmental protection in the development of the Area mineral resources reviews the international organizations relevant to the Area,especially focuses on the establishment and composition of ISA;analysis the content and performance of ISA's responsibility of environmental protection.Finally,the shortcomings of the ISA in the area of mineral resources development in environmental protection from the prospective of the content and implantation of ISA's responsibility are discussed and some improvement suggestions are proposed accordingly.