Editing International Seabed Authority (section)

=== Exploratory ===
Exploratory mining involves "deep-sea mapping, manned submersibles or remotely-operated vehicles, photographic and video systems, and drilling devices."<ref>[https://isa.org.jm/files/files/documents/eng8.pdf Discovery and Formation] isa.org.jm
{{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220331185447/https://isa.org.jm/files/files/documents/eng8.pdf |date=31 March 2022 }}</ref>

==== Clarion–Clipperton zone ====
[[File:2019-03-08 22-08-57 Sonne SO268-1 035ROV06 OnlyLogo klein original(1).jpg|thumb|Investigation into manganese nodule mining on the seabed in the Clarion–Clipperton zone]]

Most areas of exploration are in the [[Clarion–Clipperton zone]] (CCZ), in the Equatorial North Pacific Ocean, south and southeast of Hawaii, between Hawaii and Mexico. The quiet CCZ, as wide as the continental U.S., is home to [[Manganese nodule|polymetallic nodules]] or trillions of potato-size lumps of matter formed over millions of years that contain nickel, manganese, copper, zinc and cobalt, as well as deep water coral, sponges and unusual species ("ghost octopus", crustaceans, worms and sea cucumbers) that in a near light-less environment attach to the rock-like nodules for shelter.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Clarion–Clipperton Zone |url=http://pew.org/2o4se1P |access-date=2022-04-23 |website=pew.org |date=15 December 2017 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="pewtrusts.org"/> Contractors want to mine polymetallic nodules for battery storage for electric vehicles, smartphones, and solar and wind energy.<ref name="Wolman"/><ref>{{Cite news |date=2019-10-23 |title=China leads the race to exploit deep sea minerals: U.N. body |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mining-deepsea-idUSKBN1X213T |access-date=2022-04-23 |archive-date=23 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220423145254/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mining-deepsea-idUSKBN1X213T |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Heffernan |first=Olive |date=2019-07-24 |title=Seabed mining is coming — bringing mineral riches and fears of epic extinctions |journal=Nature |language=en |volume=571 |issue=7766 |pages=465–468 |doi=10.1038/d41586-019-02242-y|pmid=31341305 |bibcode=2019Natur.571..465H |s2cid=198496846 |doi-access=free }}</ref>

==== Other areas of exploration ====
Exploration contracts for polymetallic nodules have also been issued for contractors operating in the Central Indian Ocean Basin and [[Western Pacific Ocean]].<ref name="ReferenceA">{{cite web |title=Exploration Contracts {{!}} International Seabed Authority |url=https://www.isa.org.jm/exploration-contracts |access-date=2022-04-23 |website=www.isa.org.jm |archive-date=26 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220426103651/https://www.isa.org.jm/exploration-contracts |url-status=live }}</ref> The ISA has issued exploration contracts for polymetallic sulphides in the [[Southwest Indian Ridge|South West Indian Ridge]], [[Central Indian Ridge]] and the [[Mid-Atlantic Ridge]],<ref name="ReferenceA"/> and contracts for exploration for cobalt-rich crusts in the Western Pacific Ocean.<ref name="ReferenceA"/>

==== Requirements of contractors ====
Each contractor is required to develop a contingency plan should something go wrong during exploration, report annually on its activities in its assigned area and propose a training program for developing countries .<ref name="ReferenceA"/>

==== List of exploratory contractors ====
The ISA has signed 15-year contracts for exploration with 22 contractors seeking polymetallic nodules, polymetallic sulphides and cobalt-rich ferromanganese crusts in the deep seabed.<ref>{{cite web |title=Exploration Contracts {{!}} International Seabed Authority |url=https://www.isa.org.jm/exploration-contracts |access-date=2022-04-24 |website=www.isa.org.jm |archive-date=26 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220426103651/https://www.isa.org.jm/exploration-contracts |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2001-2002 the ISA signed contracts with Yuzhmorgeologya (Russian Federation); Interoceanmetal Joint Organization (IOM) (Bulgaria, Cuba, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Poland and Russian Federation); the Government of the Republic of Korea; China Ocean Minerals Research and Development Association (COMRA) (China); Deep Ocean Resources Development Company (DORD) (Japan); Institut français de recherche pour l’exploitation de la mer (IFREMER) (France); the Government of India. In 2006, the Authority signed a 15-year contract with the Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources of Germany.<ref name="ReferenceB">{{cite web |title=Minerals: Polymetallic Nodules {{!}} International Seabed Authority |url=https://www.isa.org.jm/exploration-contracts/polymetallic-nodules |access-date=2022-04-23 |website=www.isa.org.jm |archive-date=18 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210418040614/https://www.isa.org.jm/exploration-contracts/polymetallic-nodules |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Exploration areas {{!}} International Seabed Authority |url=https://www.isa.org.jm/minerals/exploration-areas |access-date=2022-04-23 |website=www.isa.org.jm |archive-date=22 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220422103718/https://www.isa.org.jm/minerals/exploration-areas |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2008, the Authority received two new applications for authorization to explore for polymetallic nodules, coming for the first time from private firms in developing island nations of the Pacific. Sponsored by their respective governments, they were submitted by Nauru Ocean Resources Inc.<ref>[http://www.isa.org.jm/files/documents/EN/14Sess/LTC/ISBA-14LTC-L2.pdf Nauru Ocean Resources Inc.: application for approval of a plan of work for exploration.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081217085209/http://www.isa.org.jm/files/documents/EN/14Sess/LTC/ISBA-14LTC-L2.pdf |date=17 December 2008 }} Document ISBA/14/LTC/L.2, 21 April 2008.</ref> and Tonga Offshore Mining Limited.<ref>[http://www.isa.org.jm/files/documents/EN/14Sess/LTC/ISBA-14LTC-L3.pdf Tonga Offshore Mining Limited : application for approval of a plan of work for exploration.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081217085240/http://www.isa.org.jm/files/documents/EN/14Sess/LTC/ISBA-14LTC-L3.pdf |date=17 December 2008 }} Document ISBA/14/LTC/L.3, 21 April 2008.</ref> A 15-year exploration contract was granted by the Authority to Nauru Ocean Resources Inc. on 22 July 2011 and to Tonga Offshore Mining Limited on 12 January 2012.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.isa.org.jm/en/scientific/exploration/contractors |title=Contractors &#124; International Seabed Authority |publisher=Isa.org.jm |access-date=13 April 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130125174247/http://www.isa.org.jm/en/scientific/exploration/contractors |archive-date=25 January 2013  }}</ref>

Fifteen-year exploration contracts for polymetallic nodules were also granted to G-TECH Sea Mineral Resources NV (Belgium) on 14 January 2013; Marawa Research and Exploration Ltd (Kiribati) on 19 January 2015; Ocean Mineral Singapore Pte Ltd on 22 January 2015; UK Seabed Resources Ltd (two contracts on 8 February 2013 and 29 March 2016 respectively); Cook Islands Investment Corporation on 15 July 2016 and more recently China Minmetals Corporation on 12 May 2017.<ref name="ReferenceB"/>

The Authority has signed seven contracts for the exploration for polymetallic sulphides in the South West Indian Ridge, Central Indian Ridge and Mid-Atlantic Ridge with China Ocean Mineral Resources Research and Development Association (18 November 2011); the Government of Russia (29 October 2012); Government of the Republic of Korea (24 June 2014); Institut français de recherche pour l’exploitation de la mer (Ifremer, France, 18 November 2014); the Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources of Germany (6 May 2015); and the Government of India (26 September 2016) and the Government of the Republic of Poland (12 February 2018).<ref>{{cite web |title=Exploration Contracts {{!}} International Seabed Authority |url=https://www.isa.org.jm/exploration-contracts |access-date=2022-04-21 |website=www.isa.org.jm |archive-date=26 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220426103651/https://www.isa.org.jm/exploration-contracts |url-status=live }}</ref>

The Authority holds five contracts for the exploration of cobalt-rich ferromanganese crusts in the Western Pacific Ocean with China Ocean Mineral Resources Research and Development Association (29 April 2014); Japan Oil Gas and Metals National Corporation (JOGMEC, 27 January 2014); Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of the Russian Federation (10 March 2015), Companhia De Pesquisa de Recursos Minerais (9 November 2015) and the Government of the Republic of Korea (27 March 2018).<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.gov.cn/xinwen/2014-04/29/content_2668705.htm|title=中国大洋协会与国际海底管理局签订富钴结壳勘探合同|work=中国政府网|language=zh|access-date=12 February 2020|archive-date=2 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200802052831/http://www.gov.cn/xinwen/2014-04/29/content_2668705.htm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.isa.org.jm/deep-seabed-minerals-contractors?qt-contractors_tabs_alt=2#qt-contractors_tabs_alt|title=DEEP SEABED MINERALS CONTRACTORS|work=INTERNATIONAL SEABED AUTHORITY|language=en|access-date=12 February 2020|archive-date=7 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200507013907/https://www.isa.org.jm/deep-seabed-minerals-contractors?qt-contractors_tabs_alt=2#qt-contractors_tabs_alt|url-status=dead}}</ref>