近日,中国国家海洋局发布消息称,中国大洋协会于2012年提出的富钴结壳矿区申请得到国际海底管理局理事会核准,至此,中国在西北太平洋国际海底区域又增加了一块面积为3 000 km2,具有专属勘探权和优先开采权的富钴结壳矿区。此前,中国已在东北太平洋和西南印度洋分别获得一块7.5万km2的多金属结核矿区和一块1万km2的多金属硫化物矿区。 Recently, China’s State Oceanic Administration announced in a message that the application of the cobalt-rich crust mining area proposed by China Ocean Shipping Association in 2012 was approved by the Council of the International Seabed Authority. Thus far, China has added an area of ​​3,000 in the international seabed area of ​​the Northwest Pacific Ocean km2, cobalt-rich crust mining area with exclusive exploration rights and preferential exploration rights. Earlier, China had obtained a 75,000 km2 polymetallic nodule and a 10,000 km2 polymetallic sulfide ore in the northeastern Pacific and the Southwest Indian Ocean, respectively.