Acknowledgments -- List of abbreviations -- Introduction -- Chapter 1 The international significance of deep-sea hydrothermal vents -- 1.1 Introduction - shifting perceptions and shifting the conservation agenda to the deep sea -- 1.2 The Hydrothermal Vent Ecosystem -- 1.3 The Biodiversity of the deep sea -- 1.4 What is so important about the hydrothermal vent ecosystem? Why bother? -- 1.5 Conclusion -- Chapter 2 Framework treaties and key concepts in international law -- 2.1 Introduction -- 2.2 Foundation concepts in international environmental law and policy -- 2.3 Framework treaties -- 2.4 Part XI of LOSC and the Part XI Agreement -- 2.5 Marine scientific research under LOSC -- 2.6 United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity -- 2.7 Customary International Law, Soft Law and other recent developments -- 2.8 Conclusion -- Chapter 3 Regional and other environmental treaties -- 3.1 Introduction -- 3.2 Convention for the protection of the marine environment of the north-east Atlantic -- 3.3 Noumea Convention -- 3.4 The Antarctic Treaty System -- 3.5 NEAF Convention -- 3.6 World Heritage Convention -- 3.7 Conclusion -- Chapter 4 The Continental Shelf Regime -- 4.1 Introduction -- 4.2 Historical origins of the Continental Shelf Regime -- 4.3 The 1958 Geneva Convention on the Continental Shelf -- 4.4 Conclusion: Should we sever the link between sedentary species and the continental shelf ? -- Chapter 5 The Common Heritage of Mankind -- 5.1 Introduction - unresolved isses -- 5.2 Central elements of the the common heritage of mankind -- 5.3 Has the world moved on? -- 5.4 Conclusion - the Common heritage of mankind and future debate -- Chapter 6 Domestic legal regimes regulating activities at hydrothermal vent sites within national jurisdiction -- 6.1 Introduction -- 6.2 Canada - The Endeavour hydrothermal vents -- 6.3 New Zealand.

6.4 Portugal - Lucky Strike and Menez Gwen -- 6.5 Papua New Guinea -- 6.6 Lessons to be learnt from the domestic regimes -- Chapter 7 The emerging deep sea biotechnology industry -- 7.1 Introduction -- 7.2 What is bioprospecting? -- 7.3 Why are hydrothermal vents subject to bioprospecting? -- 7.4 The process of bioprospecting for deep-sea genetic resources -- 7.5 Intellectual property rights and bioprospecting -- 7.6 International law and patents in relation to biotechnology -- 7.7 The missing link - The CBD and patents -- 7.8 Conclusion -- Chapter 8 Marine Scientific Research -- 8.1 Introduction -- 8.2 The nature of marine scientific research involving hydrothermal vents -- 8.3 Environmental impact of marine scientific research -- 8.4 Debate on regulation of marine scientific research at the law of the Sea negotiations -- 8.5 The InterRidge Code of Conduct for marine scientific research -- 8.6 Environmental impact assessment and international environmental law -- 8.7 Environmental impact assessment and science in Antarctica -- 8.8 Conclusion - a model environmental impact assessment procedure for marine scientific research beyond national jurisdiction -- Chapter 9 The role of the International Seabed Authority -- 9.1 Introduction -- 9.2 The environmental mandate of the International Seabed Authority -- 9.3 The emerging interest of the International Seabed Authority in biodiversity issues -- 9.4 The International Seabed Authority and de-facto marine protected areas -- 9.5 Structural impedements to effective sustainable management of deep-sea hydrothermal vents by the International Seabed Authority -- 9.6 Do States consider the International Seabed Authority irrelevant? -- 9.7 Conclusion - expansion of the International Seabed Authority mandate -- Chapter 10 Elements of the future international legal regime.

10.1 Expanding mandates, modified mandates and the challenge of achieving global oceans governance -- 10.2 The way forward -- Table of treaties, agreements and declarations -- Table of legislation -- Table of cases -- Bibliography -- Appendices -- Index.