Long regarded as an empty and inhospitable environment, the deep ocean is rapidly emerging as an ecological hot spot with a remarkable diversity of biological life. Yet, the world s oceans are currently on a dangerous trajectory of decline, threatened by acidification, oil and gas drilling, overfishing, and, in the long term, deep-sea mining, bioprospecting, and geo-engineering.In The Geopolitics of Deep Oceans, noted environmental sociologist John Hannigan examines the past, present and future of our planet s final frontier . The author argues that our understanding of the deep - its definition, boundaries, value, ownership, health and future state - depends on whether we see it first and foremost as a resource cornucopia, a political chessboard, a shared commons, or a unique and threatened ecology. He concludes by locating a new storyline that imagines the oceans as a canary-in-the-mineshaft for gauging the impact of global climate change.The Geopolitics of Deep Oceans is a unique introduction to the geography, law, politics and sociology of the sub-surface ocean. It will appeal to anyone seriously concerned about the present state and future fate of the largest single habitat for life on our planet.

* Contents* Acknowledgements* Glossary of Abbreviations and Acronyms* Text Boxes* Introduction* 1. Oceanic Frontiers: Harvesting the Commons* 2. Governing the Abyss: Sharing the Commons* 3. Sovereignty Games: Claiming the Commons* 4. Saving the Ocean: Protecting the Commons* 5. Conclusion: Global Climate Change and the Future of Deep* Oceans* Notes* References* Index