standardization of environmental data and information - International ...

three working groups, on chemistry and geology, benthic biology and
environment, and the water column. The working group reports contain
detailed specifications for environmental monitoring in their respective
spheres, while the overall report incorporates cross-sectoral ideas on ways
to improve standardization in research on the deep-sea environment.
Each of the five parts is preceded by an introduction summarizing
highlights of the papers, discussions and reports.
While discussing standardization, the Workshop dealt with a variety
of issues of environmental monitoring related to exploration for and
eventual exploitation of nodules. These may be divided into four categories:
Why? What? How? When?
Environmental monitoring: Why?
The broad reason for monitoring the environment around potential
nodule mine sites was established long ago in the Law of the Sea
Convention and subsequent instruments: it is, to guard against harmful
effects on the marine environment. The Secretary-General observed during
the discussion that, while following the mandates in these instruments, the
Authority would be wise to develop its own standards rather than have them
imposed from outside by those who might question its status as a
responsible actor in the oceans if it did not act.
The Legal and Technical Commission had previously distinguished
between two purposes of monitoring, corresponding to different phases in
the development of a mining industry: environmental baseline studies, to
establish conditions in the area before it is disturbed by human activity, and
monitoring during and after testing of collecting systems and equipment.
The Workshop adhered to this distinction, concentrating on the first phase
in view of the fact that no equipment tests are currently planned.
One participant pointed to the two main reasons for monitoring the
water column: protection of aquatic health and protection of human health.
While no one questioned the value of environmental monitoring, some
stressed that contractors should not be expected to investigate every
aspect of the oceans in their areas, however valuable such information
might be to science. Increase in knowledge was an objective of humankind,
one speaker said, while evaluating impact was an objective of a company or
the Authority. Professor Smith, the moderator, summed up by saying that a
balance had to be struck between what people would like to know about the
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INTERNATIONAL SEABED AUTHORITY