New human uses on the marine environment, such as deep-sea mining (DSM), have necessitated the adoption of more holistic approaches such as ecosystem-based management (EBM) to secure sustainable development. The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the rules, regulations, and procedures adopted by the International Seabed Authority (ISA) represent the main regulatory framework to govern DSM activities. This study aimed to examine whether UNCLOS and ISA documents include references to EBM principles, and if these references vary in documents through time. Following a literature review, 26 EBM principles were collated into 8 general categories, and their adherence to 5 key documents related to the DSM regime was analysed. Results demonstrated a trend in recognizing EBM principles in documents over time, especially in the Draft Regulations for Exploitation. However, the mere recognition of EBM principles in the regulatory framework does not guarantee that the approach will be clearly understood and appropriately incorporated by contractors throughout the process. For such, further clarification on the meaning of the Ecosystem Approach in the DSM context and building the capacity of the ISA Legal and Technical Commission are among the recommendations presented by this study.

中文翻译：

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在海底采矿制度的关键文件中承认基于生态系统的管理原则：影响和进一步建议

人类对海洋环境的新用途，例如深海采矿 (DSM)，需要采用更全面的方法，例如基于生态系统的管理 (EBM)，以确保可持续发展。联合国海洋法公约 (UNCLOS) 以及国际海底管理局 (ISA) 通过的规则、条例和程序是管理 DSM 活动的主要监管框架。本研究旨在检查 UNCLOS 和 ISA 文件是否包含对 EBM 原则的引用，以及这些引用是否随时间在文件中发生变化。在查阅文献后，将 26 项 EBM 原则整理为 8 个一般类别，并分析了它们对与 DSM 制度相关的 5 个关键文件的遵守情况。结果表明，随着时间的推移，在文档中识别 EBM 原则的趋势，尤其是在《开采条例草案》中。然而，仅在监管框架中承认 EBM 原则并不能保证承包商在整个过程中清楚地理解并适当地采用该方法。为此，本研究提出的建议包括在 DSM 背景下进一步澄清生态系统方法的含义以及建设 ISA 法律和技术委员会的能力。