Editing International Seabed Authority (section)

=== Legislative ===
The Authority's main legislative accomplishment has been the adoption, in the year 2000, of regulations governing exploration for polymetallic nodules.<ref>[http://www.isa.org.jm/en/documents/mcode Mining Code | International Seabed Authority.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080522100957/http://www.isa.org.jm/en/documents/mcode |date=22 May 2008 }} Regulations on Prospecting and Exploration for Polymetallic Nodules in the Area.</ref><ref>[http://www.dundee.ac.uk/cepmlp/journal/html/vol10/vol10-2.html Website of the Centre for Energy, Petroleum and Mineral Law and Policy (CEPMLP), volume 10, abstract 2 (18 December 2001).] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080219043004/http://www.dundee.ac.uk/cepmlp/journal/html/vol10/vol10-2.html |date=19 February 2008 }} The University of Dundee (United Kingdom). Article on the Regulations (2001) by Michael W. Lodge, chief of the ISA [[United Nations Office of Legal Affairs]]</ref> These resources, also called [[manganese nodule]]s, contain varying amounts of [[manganese]], [[cobalt]], [[copper]] and [[nickel]].  They occur as potato-sized lumps scattered about on the surface of the ocean floor, mainly in the central [[Pacific Ocean]] in the Clarion–Clipperton zone but with some deposits in the [[Indian Ocean]].

In 2013, the ISA approved amendments to its mining code on deep sea exploration, stating a prospector should take a precautionary approach to avoid polluting the ocean and should immediately inform the Secretary-General of any prospect-related incidents that threaten the marine environment.  The amended regulations also said a contractor can recover "a reasonable amount of material" for testing but not for sale.<ref name="ReferenceD">{{cite web |title=The Mining Code: Exploration Regulations {{!}} International Seabed Authority |url=https://www.isa.org.jm/mining-code/exploration-regulations |access-date=2022-04-24 |website=www.isa.org.jm |archive-date=28 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220428172658/https://www.isa.org.jm/mining-code/exploration-regulations |url-status=live }}</ref>

In July 2019, the ISA's Legal and Trade Commission prepared "Draft regulations on exploitation of mineral resources in the Area."<ref>{{cite web |title=ISBA/25/C/WP.1 {{!}} International Seabed Authority |url=https://www.isa.org.jm/node/19311 |access-date=2022-04-24 |website=www.isa.org.jm |archive-date=24 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220424133539/https://www.isa.org.jm/node/19311 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In 2010, the ISA adopted Regulations on Prospecting and Exploration for Polymetallic Sulphides.<ref name="auto">{{cite web |title=Summary report 25 February – 1 March 2019 |url=https://enb.iisd.org/events/1st-part-25th-annual-session-international-seabed-authority-isa/summary-report-25-february-1 |access-date=2022-04-24 |website=IISD Earth Negotiations Bulletin |language=en |archive-date=24 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220424133538/https://enb.iisd.org/events/1st-part-25th-annual-session-international-seabed-authority-isa/summary-report-25-february-1 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="ReferenceD"/>

In 2012, the Authority adopted Regulations on Prospecting and Exploration for Cobalt-Rich Ferromanganese Crusts.<ref name="auto"/><ref name="ReferenceD"/>

The Council of the Authority began work in August 2002 on another set of regulations, covering [[polymetallic]] [[sulfide]]s and cobalt-rich [[ferromanganese]] crusts, which are rich sources of such minerals as copper, iron, [[zinc]], silver and gold, as well as [[cobalt]]. The sulphides are found around volcanic hot springs, especially in the western Pacific Ocean, while the crusts occur on oceanic ridges and elsewhere at several locations around the world.  The Council decided in 2006 to prepare separate sets of regulations for sulphides and for crusts, with priority given to sulphides. It devoted most of its sessions in 2007 and 2008 to this task, but several issues remained unresolved. Chief among these were the definition and configuration of the area to be allocated to contractors for exploration, the fees to be paid to the Authority and the question of how to deal with any overlapping claims that might arise.<ref>[http://www.isa.org.jm/files/documents/En/SG-Stats/StatesParties18.pdf Statement by the Secretary-General of the International Seabed Authority to the Eighteenth Meeting of States Parties to the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081201113034/http://www.isa.org.jm/files/documents/En/SG-Stats/StatesParties18.pdf |date=1 December 2008 }} New York, 16 June 2008.</ref> Meanwhile, the Legal and Technical Commission reported progress on ferromanganese crusts.<ref name="isa.org.jm">[http://www.isa.org.jm/files/documents/EN/14Sess/Cncl/ISBA-14C-11.pdf Statement of the President of the Council of the International Seabed Authority on the work of the Council during the fourteenth session.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081217085133/http://www.isa.org.jm/files/documents/EN/14Sess/Cncl/ISBA-14C-11.pdf |date=17 December 2008 }} Document ISBA/14/C/11, 5 June 2008.</ref>