Inequitable allocation of rights to exploit sea-bed and marine resources

Commercial sea-bed mining of metal rich nodules, which was thought to be around the corner in the 1970s, is now expected to begin around the turn of the century. Western consortia had virtually stopped all sea-bed mining development activities after 1981. But then France, India, Japan and Russia commenced comprehensive exploration and development projects for exploration of manganese nodule resources. China and Korea have also carried out preliminary evaluations. Japan and India were preparing to commence test mining in the mid-1990s.

It is predicted that not being a signatory to the Law of the Sea Convention might rule out a sea-bed miner of metalliferous ores from certain receivers. Restrictions on the export of high technology for sea-bed mining, and patents protecting the owners of patent rights on parts of deep sea-bed technology, are potential commercial limitations on exploitation of sea-bed resources.

1. Developing countries that are land-locked and otherwise geographically disadvantaged in relation to access to the sea are discriminated against in proposals, including those by maritime developing countries, for the sharing of the world's deep sea mineral and other resources. Exclusive economic zones (EEZ) in the sea, extending 200 miles, and in some cases 550 miles, depending on the length of the continental shelf, give an unfair allocation of rights.

1. Unethical practices in natural resource management
2. Territorial disputes between states
3. Obstacles to the utilization of coastal and deep sea water resources
4. Denial of right to equality between states

1. Vulnerability of land-locked countries
2. Remote fishing ground

1. Unethical practice of marine sciences
2. Lack of integrated marine resource management

1. Unsustainable exploitation of fish resources

1. Regulating use of oceans

1. Rights
2. Inequality
3. Exploitation
4. Discrimination [D]