A Review of the Costs and Benefits of Deep Sea Mining and the Ways Pollution Charges Could Work

Abstract

The potential benefits of deep sea mining for the International Seabed Authority members and the wider world economy are explained. However, deep sea mining is controversial because of its uncertain effects on deep sea ecology, with severe negative effects being possible. As a countermeasure it is argued that the existing royalty and tax system operated through the ISA could be used to manage pollution levels should these turn out to be serious, which at present is not clearly known.

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