Abstract
The author discusses that the technological developments required to exploit the resources known to exist in the harsh deep-sea environment are, although considerable, perhaps the least of the industry's worries. The mining industry can draw on the experiences of the offshore energy industry, where operations at depths of 3-4 km are now almost routine. The real difficulties begin when one considers the firm commodity prices, structured regulatory framework and environmental understanding of each area to be mined. And then there is the matter of the social contract, sufficient agreement that the deep ocean should be exploited at all. The paper looks at the Bismarck Sea and the East China Sea in particular. Extraction of mineral resources is discussed within the context of geographical distribution and industrial requirements.
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