Jamaica has been elected vice-president for Latin American and Caribbean states on the International Seabed Authority (ISA). The ISA is the body responsible for overseeing seabed and ocean floor exploration in the world.
The ISA, which is a United Nations body headquartered in Kingston, gave Jamaica the vice-presidency on Tuesday during the second day of its 11th session at the Jamaica Conference Centre, downtown Kingston. The session began on Monday and will continue until August 26.
The Jamaican delegation is headed by Ambassador Raymond Wolfe, Permanent Representative to the ISA and Under-Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
At the top of the ISA agenda is the development of legislation for "exploration of recently discovered rich mineral deposits in the deep oceans beyond national jurisdiction."
The ISA has been discussing a plan by Germany for exploration of polymetallic nodules and draft regulations for prospecting and exploration of polymetallic massive sulphides and cobalt-rich crusts.
Polymetallic nodules
Polymetallic nodules are objects found 5,000 metres below sea level and contain commercially valuable deposits of nickel, manganese, copper and cobalt.
According to the ISA website, because of the depth at which nodules are found, commercial mining only became a possibility in the late 1960s. With technological advancements it was then thought that harvesting of the nodules would soon become a commercial reality.
At the same time it was feared that profits from mining would be made only to developed countries that owned the necessary capital and technology.
Polymetalic massive sulphides and cobalt-rich crusts, on the other hand, were yet to be discovered 20 years ago. They are mineral resources that are rich in copper, iron, zinc, silver, gold and cobalt.
Unlike nodules they are concentrated in areas. Sulphides are found around hot volcanic springs and crusts on organic ridges.
The draft regulations propose an exploration area, for both resources, of 10,000 sq.. km. divided into 100 blocks.
According to the ISA only 10 per cent of the world's oceanic ridges have been surveyed and, regarding future research, the authority has discussed the establishment of a trust fund to boost the role of scientists from developing countries involved in the research with preference given to scientists working in developing countries.
