Clarion Clipperton Zone

The Clarion Clipperton Zone (CCZ) is a large fracture zone stretching for over 7000 km in the Pacific Ocean. It is formed as a consequence of plate tectonics and is also known as the Clarion-Clipperton Fracture Zone (CCFZ).

Location and Characteristics

The CCZ region ranges from Hawaii to Mexico with Clarion Island located in the northern edge of the zone. It is one of the five great lineations in the North Pacific seafloor and is being explored for deep sea mining of minerals such as copper, cobalt, zinc, and manganese.

Increasing Interest in Mining Industry

In recent years, the CCZ has seen an increasing interest from the mining industry. The zone is under the administration of the International Seabed Authority, which regulates mineral-related activities in the international seabed area beyond the control of national jurisdictions. The zone has approval for 16 mining contractors at present.

Abyssal Deep Sea

An expedition in the CCZ recently recorded the highest number of fishes ever captured at one time in the abyssal deep sea, which is located between 3000 to 6000 metres deep. A team of oceanographers captured a swarm of 115 cutthroat eels and a few were identified to be of the species Ilyophis arx, a species with fewer than 10 specimens known worldwide. Scientists set out to explore three underwater seamounts in the CCZ and sighted the swarm of eels in one of them, although it is not clear if these eels are permanent residents in the abyssal or just visitors.

International Seabed Authority (ISA)

The International Seabed Authority is a regulatory body formed in November 1994 and is based in Kingston, Jamaica. Its purpose is to regulate mineral-related activities in the international seabed area beyond the control of national jurisdictions.