Deep Trouble: Emerging Resource Competition in the Deep Sea

Aug 10, 2016 | Scott Moore & Dale Squires
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It might seem strange to say that the deep sea, the vast expanse of the world’s oceans beyond the continental shelf, is at risk of conflict and competition. After all, no one lives there, and as is often said, more is known about the surface of the moon than most parts of the ocean floor. But the fact is, even the cold, dark reaches of the ocean are no longer immune to resource competition between the world’s major powers.

A combination of technological advances, rising demand for fish and rare minerals, and an under-developed institutional framework make the deep sea the planet’s latest – and perhaps last – frontier for those concerned with preventing future conflict, we write in a recent issue of Global Environmental Politics.

A crucial feature of the deep sea is that very little is known about it. The region, typically defined as beyond the continental shelf break and below 200 meters in depth, isastoundingly diverse, encompassing towering underwater mountains, deep trenches, and vast undersea plains. Life in the deep sea is generally less abundant than closer to the surface, but it is unique. The pressure and temperature extremes to which deep sea organisms have adapted may inspire novel materials, pharmaceuticals, and other scientific discoveries. Tragically, we may never find out. Destructive fishing practices, like bottom-trawling, are affecting even some parts of the deep sea, devastating ecosystems before they can be studied. But perhaps the most important features of the deep sea from a security point of view are its geopolitical importance for military operations, communications, and minerals.