Policy Brief
Clarifying the ISA's Two-Year Rule
An analysis of the legal loophole that could accelerate deep-sea mining without an established environmental code.
By Dr. Aris Thorne
Oct 2023
The Ocean
Dictates
The Future.
We map the physical, economic, and political realities of the world's oceans. Hard data for the blue economy.
Ocean Heat Content
345 ZJ
Top 2000m (2023)
Sea Level Rise
97 mm
Since 1993 average
Blue Economy Val.
$2.5 T
Annual gross marine product
The Economics of the Abyss.
As terrestrial resources dwindle, the deep ocean becomes the next frontier for critical minerals. We analyze the regulatory frameworks and ecological costs of deep-sea mining before extraction begins.
Read the ReportData Analysis
Nodule Abundance in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone
Mapping the concentration of polymetallic nodules against proposed conservation areas.
Data Team
Sep 2023
Calculate Coastal Risk.
A simplified version of our Coastal Resilience Index tool. Estimate potential infrastructure risk based on projected sea-level rise scenarios.
Estimated Risk Score
--
Relative index score. Scores above 50 indicate severe need for adaptation investment.
The Blue Economy
Valuing the sustainable use of ocean resources.
01. Energy
Offshore Wind & Wave
Analyzing grid integration costs and spatial conflicts with fisheries in the North Sea and US Eastern Seaboard.
02. Food Security
Next-Gen Aquaculture
Evaluating the yield models for offshore finfish farming and the carbon sequestration potential of macroalgae.
03. Transport
Decarbonizing Shipping
Green ammonia adoption curves and the economic impact of the IMO's revised greenhouse gas strategy.
Governance Beyond National Jurisdiction.
The High Seas Treaty (BBNJ) represents the most significant ocean governance shift in decades. We break down the mechanisms for establishing marine protected areas and sharing marine genetic resources.
- → Analysis of ratification timelines
- → Proposed MPA economic impact models
- → Genetic resource benefit-sharing frameworks
Fig 1. Schematic of jurisdictional boundaries
(EEZ vs. High Seas)
(EEZ vs. High Seas)
G
Funding Opportunities
View RFP & Apply
2025 Blue Economy Research Grants
We are allocating $2.5M in seed funding for independent post-doctoral research focusing on quantitative models for coastal adaptation and alternative marine energy feasibility.
$50k-$150k
Per Project
Oct 15
Application Deadline
Our Researchers
Dr. Aris Thorne
Dir. of Policy
Former lead negotiator for UNCLOS delegations. Focuses on deep-sea regulatory frameworks.
Dr. Mei Chen
Lead Oceanographer
Specializes in thermohaline circulation modeling and localized SST anomaly predictions.
Julian Vance, MSc
Blue Econ Analyst
Quantitative models for offshore energy yield vs. infrastructure capital expenditure.
Dr. Sofia Reyes
Marine Ecologist
Quantifying carbon sequestration rates in restored kelp forests and coastal wetlands.
Data Partners & Affiliates
NOAA ERSST
Copernicus Marine
Scripps Institution
ISA Registry
Our Methodology
We reject emotive advocacy in favor of cold, quantitative models. Our research methodology is built on three unshakeable pillars.
Recent Datasets & Reports
Global SST Anomalies: Q4 2023 Update
DATASET • Jan 12, 2024Aggregated NetCDF files and time-series analysis of equatorial Pacific warming trends.
Offshore Aquaculture: Economic Yield Models
REPORT • Nov 28, 2023CAPEX/OPEX modeling for finfish pens located >3nm offshore in high-energy environments.
Aragonite Saturation State Maps (2010-2023)
DATASET • Oct 05, 2023Tracking ocean acidification impacts on calcifying organisms in the Southern Ocean.
Interactive Model
Evaluate Offshore Aquaculture Yields
Calculate the capital expenditure and biological yield potential for high-energy offshore finfish operations.
The Bathymetric Dispatch.
A monthly synthesis of our latest research, newly released datasets, and policy briefs. No spam, just hard ocean data.
Read past issues.