Increasing global energy and solid minerals demand is challenging both science and the industry as never before. In response, technology is increasing the ability to discover and access resources once thought to be inaccessible. Mineral resources are becoming increasing difficult to extract on land, and recent research in the deep-sea has identified rich ore deposits that may be economically extractable through the development of a deep-sea mining industry within the next decade.
Along with this, an interest in natural hydrates has grown considerably, covering a wide range of subjects from scientific knowledge to economic extraction of methane from hydrate. Thus, the challenges facing the Ocean are large and accelerating, providing a new imperative for the science community, industry and national and international organizations to work together to develop successful exploitation management and conservation of the deep-sea ecosystem.

The 9th Conference “Minerals of the Ocean” jointly with the 6th Conference “Deep-Sea Minerals and Mining” are subjected to discuss new trends in investigation and exploration of mineral recources and gas hydrates of the Ocean.