Kingston, Jamaica— The Council of the International Seabed Authority (the Authority) commenced the first part of its thirtieth session on Monday, 17 March 2025, marking the start of two weeks of intensive discussions aimed at advancing the draft regulations for the exploitation of mineral resources in the international seabed area (the Area). The meetings will conclude on 28 March 2025.
In her opening remarks, Ms. Leticia Carvalho, Secretary-General of the Authority, welcomed delegates to Jamaica and expressed her gratitude to the Jamaican government for its steadfast support. Delivering her address in English, French and Spanish, Madam Secretary-General underscored the Authority’s three-decade legacy in deep-sea governance, capacity-building and international cooperation. She reaffirmed the Authority’s mandate to regulate activities in the Area, ensuring environmental protection, equitable benefit-sharing and scientific integrity.
Emphasizing the importance of trust, inclusivity and transparency, Secretary-General Carvalho reiterated her commitment to strengthening engagement with Member States and stakeholders.
“From the moment I took office in January, my focus has been clear—engagement, collaboration and strengthening multilateral partnerships. The Authority operates in a world that is increasingly interconnected and our success depends on the strength of our relationships within the international community,” she stated.
Madam Secretary-General urged Council members to engage in constructive negotiations, ensuring stronger participation from developing States and reaffirming their dedication to multilateralism.
“I invite all delegations to seize the opportunity to capitalize on the progress achieved thus far, building on previous discussions and moving forward with a sense of collective responsibility. The work entrusted to the Council is of profound importance for multilateralism, global ocean governance and the rule of law,” she added.
The Secretary-General expressed her appreciation to H.E. Ambassador Olav Myklebust of Norway, outgoing President of the Council for the twenty-ninth session, for his leadership in steering negotiations. She also acknowledged the Bureau, working group facilitators and rapporteurs for their dedication in advancing the draft regulations.
Council leadership and agenda
The Council postponed the adoption of its agenda to allow the delegations of Nauru and Chile to reach an agreement regarding Item 12, which concerns possible scenarios should an application for exploitation be submitted before the adoption of the regulations. Discussions on this item are scheduled for Friday, 28 March.
Nevertheless, the Council proceeded with its agenda and elected H.E. Ambassador Duncan Muhumuza Laki (Uganda) as President of the Council for the thirtieth session.
In his acceptance remarks, Ambassador Laki emphasized his commitment to leading the Council with fairness and transparency. “I assume this role with a deep sense of duty and responsibility, recognizing the importance of our collective work in shaping the future of seabed governance. Our deliberations must be guided by transparency, inclusivity and a shared commitment to the sustainable use of marine resources,” he stated.
Highlighting the significant work ahead, Ambassador Laki urged all delegates to remain focused on finalizing a balanced and effective regulatory framework. “As we continue our discussions on the draft exploitation regulations, we must remain focused on achieving a fair and balanced framework—one that safeguards the environment, upholds the interests of all States and ensures that the benefits of seabed resources are equitably shared.”
Additionally, the Council elected the following representatives as Vice Presidents for their respective regional groups:
• Brazil (Group of Latin America and the Caribbean)
• France (Western European and Others Group)
• India (Asia and the Pacific Group) will continue to serve until a successor is nominated.
Upcoming discussions
The Council immediately proceeded with discussions on the Revised Consolidated Text of the Draft Exploitation Regulations, which will continue until 26 March. On 27 March, the Council will hold a high-level discussion on the Draft Standards and Guidelines, with the goal of determining which documents are ready for review and which require further updates from the Legal and Technical Commission based on progress made since the first set of ten Standards and Guidelines was prepared in 2022.
Additionally, the Council will review a report on the work undertaken by the Legal and Technical Commission during the first part of its thirtieth session, held from 3 to 14 March 2025.
About the International Seabed Authority
The International Seabed Authority (the Authority) 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. The Authority is committed to ensuring that all economic activities in the deep seabed, including mining, are regulated and responsibly managed using the best available scientific evidence for the benefit of all humankind.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Communications Unit of the Authority, news@isa.org.jm