General Assessment of the Legal Rights of Observer States Including Türkiye in the International Seabed Authority

Year 2021, Volume: 4 Issue: 2, 467 - 522, 14.10.2022

Berilşah Kocabıyık

Abstract

Possibility of engaging deep seabed mining activities in the seabed areas beyond national jurisdiction referred as the Area has been considered an emerging issue in recent years. Technological advancements and increasing mineral supplydemand, especially rare earth minerals for technological devices, and the need of several minerals for infrastructure for renewable energy platforms have attracted most of the States to conduct deep seabed mining activities in the Area. As technology advances and commercial appetite increases, the transition from exploration to exploitation may commence soon.
While this demand is growing, there are still several concerns including the protection of the deep seabed ecosystem and effective application of common heritage of mankind principle. This article starts off the role of the International Seabed Authority (the ISA) including its historical development and mandate, then examines the participation of Observer States of the ISA to meetings and of activities in the area, discusses whether sufficient transparency for meetings and decisions for the Observer States and stakeholders is provided by the ISA with a recommendation for a way forward. Finally, the article examines Türkiye’s position to activities in the Area. The main objective of this article is to answer how could the ISA act on behalf of humankind as a whole, while Non-Party States to the UNCLOS cannot vote in the ISA meetings and how could the concept of common heritage of mankind be fully implemented while they are restricted from conducting activities in the Area?

Keywords

Common Heritage of Mankind, Observer State, Law of the Sea, International Seabed Authority

Türkiye Dahil Gözlemci Devletlerin Uluslararası Deniz Yatağı Otoritesindeki Hukuki Haklarının Genel Değerlendirmesi

Abstract

Saha olarak adlandırılan ulusal yetki alanlarının ötesindeki deniz yatağı alanlarında derin deniz yatağı madenciliği faaliyetlerinde bulunma imkanı son yıllarda giderek önem kazanan bir konu olarak değerlendirilmektedir. Teknolojik gelişmeler ve artan mineral arz-talebi, özellikle teknolojik cihazlar için nadir toprak mineralleri ve yenilenebilir enerji platformlarının altyapısı için çeşitli minerallere duyulan ihtiyaç, Devletlerin çoğunu Sahada derin deniz dibi madenciliği faaliyetleri gerçekleştirmeye çekmiştir. Teknoloji ilerledikçe ve ticari talep arttıkça, aramadan faydalanmaya geçiş yakında başlayabilir.
Bu talep artarken, derin deniz yatağı ekosisteminin korunması ve insanlığın ortak mirası ilkesinin etkin bir şekilde uygulanması gibi bazı endişeler de devam etmektedir. Bu makale, Uluslararası Deniz Yatağı Otoritesi'nin (ISA) tarihsel gelişimi ve yetkileri de dahil olmak üzere üstlendiği rol ile başlamakta, daha sonra ISA'nın Gözlemci Devletlerinin toplantılara ve alandaki faaliyetlere katılımını incelemekte, Gözlemci Devletler ve paydaşlar için toplantılar ve kararlar için yeterli şeffaflığın ISA tarafından sağlanıp sağlanmadığını tartışmakta ve ileriye dönük bir yol haritası önermektedir. Makale son olarak, Türkiye'nin Saha'daki faaliyetlere yönelik tutumunu incelemektedir. Bu makalenin temel amacı, BMDHS'ye Taraf Olmayan Devletler ISA toplantılarında oy kullanamazken ISA'nın nasıl bir bütün olarak insanlık adına hareket edebileceğini ve Saha'da faaliyet yürütmeleri kısıtlanırken insanlığın ortak mirası kavramının nasıl tam olarak uygulanabileceğini cevaplamaktır.

Keywords

İnsanlığın Ortak Mirası, Gözlemci Devlet, Deniz Hukuku, Uluslararası Deniz Yatağı Otoritesi

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