### Further Detail on Regulatory Aspects of Reference (The Italian Case)  
The current regulatory landscape governing deep-sea environments in the Southeastern Tyrrhenian Sea is shaped by a combination of Italian national initiatives and international legal frameworks, which can sometimes result in overlaps, gaps, or tensions in terms of implementation and enforcement. At the international level, Italy is bound by multiple frameworks, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which grants coastal states sovereign rights over the resources within their Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), while simultaneously imposing obligations to protect and preserve the marine environment. Furthermore, Italy is a signatory to the Barcelona Convention and its SPA/BD Protocol, which commits parties to the establishment of a coherent network of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in the Mediterranean and to the application of a precautionary approach in managing human activities. On the national level, Italy has proactively established Ecological Protection Zones (EPZs) under Law No. 61/2006, extending Italian jurisdiction beyond the territorial sea with the aim of safeguarding marine biodiversity and controlling pollution. These zones, particularly those encompassing seamounts such as Marsili and Palinuro, reflect an increasingly conservation-oriented national policy. In 2011, Italy enacted DPR 209/2011, the \"Regulation establishing Ecological Protection Zones in the Northwestern Mediterranean, the Ligurian Sea, and the Tyrrhenian Sea\", which prohibits any activity that may adversely affect the marine ecosystem. Furthermore, following the enactment of Law No. 12 of 11 February 2019, and in particular Article 11, which mandates the adoption of the Plan for the Sustainable Energy Transition of Suitable Areas (PiTESAI), and the revision of royalties under Article 18 of Legislative Decree No. 625 of 25 November 1996, the Ministry of Economic Development (MiSE) launched a comprehensive environmental planning and assessment process. The aim of this process is to identify a clearly defined framework for areas where hydrocarbon exploration, research, and extraction may be permitted, based on criteria of environmental, social, and economic sustainability (as stated in Decree Law No. 135/2018, Article 11, converted with amendments by Law No. 12/2019). This includes the drafting of a Preliminary Report to initiate the Strategic Environmental Assessment (VAS), intended to outline the scope and detail of the Environmental Report required under Legislative Decree No. 152/06 and the subsequent amendments. Conflicts may arise when economic interests, such as the exploration of mineral-rich hydrothermal sites, clash with international environmental commitments. For instance, while national laws may authorize marine research and even preliminary resource assessments, these may be restricted by broader international obligations to avoid biodiversity degradation or non-compliance with regional conservation targets. Moreover, no specific legal instrument currently exists at either the EU or international level governing deep-sea mining in the Mediterranean, leading to regulatory uncertainty and potential jurisdictional disputes. Nonetheless, synergies also exist. Italy's EPZs may serve as a model for the integration of marine spatial planning with science-based zoning, in accordance with EU directives such as the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (2008/56/EC) and the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030. The alignment between national protective measures and international commitments can enhance policy coherence, especially when conservation areas are designated based on robust geophysical and ecological criteria, as demonstrated by the findings of this study.