World ocean as the last reserve of mankind

Abstract

Analysis of mineral resources base located in offshore zone and ocean space is an important aspect of development of industrial and economic potential. The issues of control over the Earth’s mineral resources as one of the most important components of geopolitical leadership are considered. It is shown that mineral resources of shelf zone, continental slope, and ocean floor are of the greatest interest from the viewpoint of possible commercial development. Data on the major oil and natural gas fields, deep-sea deposits of polymetallic sulfides, ferromanganese nodules, and cobalt-manganese crusts are analyzed. The mechanisms of state management in the field of using the resources of World Ocean and developing marine mining industry in Russia are substantiated.

Keywords

• world ocean
• mineral and raw material security
• offshore hydrocarbon fields and mineral deposits
• continental shelf
• mining from ocean floor
• marine mining industry
• state duma of the russian federation