MINERAL RESOURCES OF STATELESS SPACE: LESSONS FROM THE DEEP SEABED

The International Seabed Authority was established in 1994 by the parties to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the parties to the associated agreement on the authority's implementation. It has been 10 years since the authority convened for its first substantive session, thereby providing a body of work by which it can be evaluated. The International Seabed Authority has gained near-universal support for its role in managing the exploitation of the mineral resources of the deep seabed. It has passed through the phases of negotiation and establishment and has begun to develop in its governance role. The effective functioning of the International Seabed Authority is in the US' interest. To this end, the US has the opportunity to guide and influence the governance and future adjustment of the seabed regime and to help develop both an international and a domestic environment that is supportive of private endeavors in international ocean space.