Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 18 May to Question 184795 on Deep Sea Mining, what discussions the UK delegation to the International Seabed Authority plans to have with fellow members of that organisation’s Council on their position on the issuing of deep-sea mining licences before there is (a) sufficient scientific evidence about the potential impact on deep-sea ecosystems and (b) strong enforceable environmental regulations, standards and guidelines have been developed by the International Seabed Authority and are in place.

The UK is fully engaged in the ongoing negotiations, at the International Seabed Authority (ISA) Council and Assembly in Kingston, Jamaica, to agree deep sea mining exploitation regulations. This takes the form of intersessional meetings and discussions before, during and after the ISA Council and Assembly. The UK recognises the growing pressure to extract deep-sea resources, and is deeply worried about the potential impacts of mining activities on the fragile marine environment.