Developing a Regulatory Framework for Mineral Exploitation in the Area
The purpose of these DSM CACs is to provide informed public advice, oversight, and engagement with DSM development. These citizen councils could be funded from government resource revenues and should provide advice on all aspects of DSM projects. Citizen councils should be comprised of all major stakeholder constituencies potentially affected by the DSM project – e.g., Indigenous Peoples, fishing, shipping, conservation, tourism, women, youth, science, and coastal communities.
Properly structured, these CACs will become the eyes, ears, and the voice for stakeholders regarding DSM projects and provide an on-going mechanism for communication between citizens, government, and industry. The CAC should exist for the lifetime of the DSM project.
Citizen councils do not substitute for effective governmental or intergovernmental oversight (e.g. by the ISA), but complement and enhance such.