Context:
International Seabed Authority (ISA) marks its 30th anniversary.
International Seabed Authority (ISA):
- Established upon entry into force of United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) in 1994.
- An international organization established to manage a global commons for benefit of humanity on the basis of equity in resource allocation.
- An autonomous international organization mandated by UNCLOS to manage mineral resources of the seabed beyond national jurisdiction for shared benefit of humankind.
- Area under its jurisdiction covers around 54% of total area of world’s oceans.
- Mandate –
- Regulating conduct of all exploration activities and exploitation of deep-sea minerals.
- Protection of marine environment from harmful effects of deep seabed related activities.
- Encourage marine scientific research.
- Headquarters – Kingston, Jamaica.
- Members: 168 Member States (including India) and European Union.
- All nations that ratify UNCLOS automatically become members of ISA.
Major Initiatives of ISA:
- Marine Scientific Research Action Plan in support of UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development.
- Sustainable Seabed Knowledge Initiative: Aiming to describe over 1,000 new deep-sea species.
- Regional Environmental Management Plans (REMPs): Following the success of 1st REMP for Clarion-Clipperton Zone (CCZ), ISA is developing additional REMPs for mid-Atlantic ridge, Indian Ocean and Northwest Pacific Ocean.
India and ISA:
- India is among 38 countries that maintains permanent missions to ISA.
- India submitted 2 applications for seabed exploration in 2 Indian Ocean regions:
- Polymetallic sulphides in Carlsberg Ridge.
- Cobalt-rich ferromanganese crusts of Afanasy-Nikitin Seamount.
- India holds 2 contracts for exploration in the Indian Ocean:
- Polymetallic nodules exploration in Central Indian Ocean Basin.
- Polymetallic sulphides exploration in Indian Ocean Ridge.
Source: ISA
Previous Year Question
With reference to the United Nations Convention on the Law of Sea, consider the following statements:
1. A coastal state has the right to establish the breadth of its territorial sea up to a limit not exceeding 12 nautical miles, measured from baseline determined in accordance with the convention.
2. Ships of all states, whether coastal or land-locked, enjoy the right of innocent passage through the territorial sea.
3. The Exclusive Economic Zone shall not extend beyond 200 nautical miles from the baseline from which the breadth of the territorial sea is measured.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
[UPSC Civil Service Exam – 2022 Prelims]
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (d)
