New Perspectives on Deep Ocean Exploration

Our vision of marine mineral resources is expanding with present and potential scientific and economic benefits as our understanding of the Earth advances. The introduction of the theory of plate tectonics opened new prospects for exploration in the deep ocean within and beyond the 200 nautical mile-wide Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) offshore coastal states. This paper presents the expanding perspective of non-living and living resources of the deep seafloor and is accompanied by the first film to clearly illuminate hydrothermal vents and their ecosystems in the deep ocean.