It will be a problem protecting this since so much is in international waters.<p>The US is the most populous country that has not ratified the Law of the Sea convention regulating deep sea mining. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_parties_to_the_United_Nations_Convention_on_the_Law_of_the_Sea" rel="nofollow">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_parties_to_the_United_...</a><p>Of which the 1994 amendment has specific provisions for the protection of the environment. <a href="https://www.un.org/depts/los/convention_agreements/texts/agreement_part_xi/agreement_part_xi.htm#article1" rel="nofollow">https://www.un.org/depts/los/convention_agreements/texts/agr...</a><p>> (g) Adoption of rules, regulations and procedures incorporating applicable standards for the protection and preservation of the marine environment;<p>> (h) Promotion and encouragement of the conduct of marine scientific research with respect to activities in the Area and the collection and dissemination of the results of such research and analysis, when available, with particular emphasis on research related to the environmental impact of activities in the Area;<p>> (i) Acquisition of scientific knowledge and monitoring of the development of marine technology relevant to activities in the Area, in particular technology relating to the protection and preservation of the marine environment;<p>> (k) Timely elaboration of rules, regulations and procedures for exploitation, including those relating to the protection and preservation of the marine environment.<p>> 7. An application for approval of a plan of work shall be accompanied by an assessment of the potential environmental impacts of the proposed activities and by a description of a programme for oceanographic and baseline environmental studies in accordance with the rules, regulations and procedures adopted by the Authority.