Kingston, Jamaica – 24 July 2024 – The Secretariat of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) welcomes six new signatories of the Global Call for Action to ensure the stewardship of the Area and its resources for the benefit of all humanity through deep-sea science, technology and innovation. The Call for Action was recently signed by Ghana, India and Jamaica, as well as by Blue Minerals Jamaica Limited (BMJ), the Interoceanmetal Joint Organization (IOM) and the Kobe Ocean-Bottom Exploration Centre (KOBEC).
H.E Mr. Harold Adlai Agyeman, Permanent Representative of Ghana to the United Nations and ISA underscored Ghana’s continued commitment to ISA’s mandate. “Ghana is proud to support Secretary-General Michael Lodge’s laudable “Call for Action” and encourages further support to ensure adequate investments and enhanced political will in support of deep-sea research, technology and shared knowledge that should enable the effective implementation of ISA’s mandate”, Ambassador Adlai Agyeman said.
The ISA Secretary-General, H.E. Mr. Michael W. Lodge, in collaboration with Argentina and Bangladesh, launched the Global Call to Action to accelerate sustainable development through deep-sea science, technology and innovation at the margins of the 2023 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Summit held in New York. The Call emphasizes four key priorities, namely: i) investments in science and technology, ii) aligning research agendas with the global deep-sea research agenda, iii) promoting deep-sea literacy and iv) leveraging ISA’s experiences to support the implementation of the Agreement on marine biological diversity beyond national jurisdiction.
This initiative is now supported by 29 signatories, including 16 Member States (Argentina, Bangladesh, China, Cook Islands, Fiji, Ghana, India, Jamaica, Malta, Mauritius, Nauru, Norway, Singapore, Tonga, Togo, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland), three research institutions (National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries, the National Oceanography Centre of UK and KOBEC), and seven exploration contractors (BMJ, IOM, GSR, LOKE CCZ, NORI, OMS and TOML). The Secretary-General has been encouraging ISA-partnered scientific organizations and exploration contractors to focus their efforts on advancing deep-sea research, knowledge and innovation in support of the Global Deep Sea Research Agenda led by ISA.
Structured around six strategic research priorities endorsed by all ISA members in 2020, this Agenda, which is embedded in the Action Plan for Marine Scientific Research in support of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development adopted by the Assembly, creates the platform for international cooperation and coordination for advanced exploration and understanding of the deep ocean environment and its ecosystems for the benefit of all.
India’s Permanent Representative to ISA, H.E. Mr. Mayank Joshi, highlighted the importance of deep-sea research and technology transfer to achieve the sustainable development of the Area for the benefit of humanity. “Greater focus on the development and transfer of marine technology would lay the foundations for equitable participation by all States and contribute significantly towards the achievement of relevant Sustainable Development Goals.”
“The need to strengthen national and regional capabilities, particularly of developing States, is crucial for sharing the benefits for all humanity. India stands ready to continue facilitating seabed minerals exploration training,” Ambassador Joshi added.
Reflecting on the engagement of the latest signatories, Secretary-General Lodge welcomed the support given to the Call and underscored the importance of fostering collaborative partnerships to advance collective knowledge and understanding of the deep sea and its ecosystems and inform decision-making processes.
“I am very pleased to welcome these new signatories and their support of this global engagement towards science diplomacy and international cooperation for the sound and responsible management of the ocean global commons for the benefit of all humanity,” noted Secretary-General Lodge.
About ISA
The International Seabed Authority (ISA) is an autonomous intergovernmental organization mandated by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea to manage the mineral resources of the seabed beyond national jurisdiction for the shared benefit of humankind. ISA is committed to the principle that all economic activities in the deep seabed, including deep-seabed mining, must be regulated and responsibly managed using the best available scientific evidence for the benefit of all nations of the world. ISA works to ensure that the voices of all States, including developing States and other stakeholders, are effectively heard in discussions around the sustainable development of the deep seabed.
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Mr. Philip Janikowski, Communications Specialist, ISA, pjanikowski@isa.org.jm
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