The UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (Convention) lays the foundation for a regime that obliges all States (not only States Parties) as well as the International Seabed Authority to protect the marine environment, which includes the ocean floor. The central provision in this regime (Article 192) addresses all States and is phrased as an erga omnes obligation. As far as the International Seabed Authority (Authority) is concerned the central provision for the protection of the marine environment is Article 145 of the Convention. The regime of the Convention on environmental protection of the ocean floor is quite complex due to the differentiated distribution of jurisdictions and responsibilities concerning the governance of the oceans.[---]