The 31st Session of the International Seabed Authority
| Part I | |
| Legal and Technical Commission | 23 February – 6 March 2026 |
| Council | 9 – 19 March 2026 |
| Part II | |
| Legal and Technical Commission | 29 June – 10 July 2026 |
| Finance Committee | 7 – 10 July 2026 |
| Council | 13 – 24 July 2026 |
| Assembly | 27 – 31 July 2026 |
ISBA/31/C/L.1
Provisional agenda of the Council
ISBA/31/C/2
Potential implications and opportunities for the work of the International Seabed Authority of the operation of the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction
ISBA/31/C/3
Status of contracts for exploration and related matters, including information on the periodic review of the implementation of approved plans of work for exploration (Advance Unedited Version)
ISBA/31/LTC/L.1
Provisional agenda of the Legal and Technical Commission
ISBA/31/LTC/1
Agenda of the Legal and Technical Commission
ISBA/31/LTC/2
Application for approval of a plan of work for exploration for polymetallic nodules by Impossible Metals Bahrain W.L.L.
ISBA/31/LTC/3/Rev.1
Applications for the extension of approved plans of work for exploration pursuant to section 1, paragraph 9, of the annex to the Agreement relating to the Implementation of Part XI of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982
ISBA/31/LTC/4
Election mechanisms for members of the Economic Planning Commission
Media Attendance
- In-person participation is encouraged for accredited media
- Virtual access will be available via live stream on the ISA Web TV
Media accreditation
- Journalists wishing to attend the Council Meeting in person must apply for media accreditation by 17:00 hrs (Jamaica time) on 20 February 2026.
- Applications will be reviewed as soon as they are received.
- Late applications will not be accepted.
- Once accredited, journalists must collect their ISA entry and media passes upon arrival and display them at all times within the venue.
Media Access Guidelines
The meetings of the Assembly and the Council will be streamed live on the Web TV of the Authority in all six languages of the Authority.
The Secretariat of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) welcomes delegates of the members of the Authority as well as the observers to Kingston for the meetings of Part I of the 31st session of the Authority (9 March – 20 March 2026), which will take place at the Jamaica Conference Centre.
Please find practical information below to make your conference stay in Kingston a success.
Daily Journal – Council
Important Texts and Publications
| Publication | English | French | Spanish | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Delegates Handbook | EN | FR | ES |
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Consolidation of Part XI of the Convention and the Implementation Agreement | EN | ||
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Selected decisions and documents of 30th session | EN | FR | ES |
 |
Consolidated regulations and recommendations on prospecting and exploration | EN | FR | ES |
 |
International Seabed Authority: Basic Texts | EN | FR | ES |
Conference WIFI Accessibility Information
Network identity: SEABED31
Password: I$A2026!
Special Rates for Accommodations
The Secretariat of the ISA has secured special accommodation rates for delegates and media at a number of hotels in Kingston.
Please follow the booking link to secure the offered rate below.
| Hotel | Council Group Rates | Legal Group Rates |
|---|---|---|
| Jamaica Pegasus Hotel | Book Now | Book Now |
| Courtleigh Hotel & Suites | Book Now | Book Now |
Session Lunch Menu
Transportation Schedule
Legal and Technical Commission (23rd Feb – 6th March)
23rd Feb – Bus will depart the Courtleigh Hotel at 8:30am
24th Feb – 6th March: Bus will depart Courtleigh Hotel at 9am
Council (9th – 19th March)
9th March – Bus will depart the Pegasus Hotel at 8:30am
10th – 19th March – Bus will depart at 9:15am
Discover Jamaica
Jamaica Cultural Tours, together with the ISA Secretariat, have specially curated a number of tours for delegations, observers, and the media to enjoy while in Jamaica during LTC and Council sessions. Please check out the tour options here: ISA Weekend Tours
Monday, March 9
Council (340th Meeting)
• Item 1: Opening of the session.
• Item 2: Adoption of the agenda.
• Item 3: Election of the President.
• Item 4: Election of the Vice-Presidents.
• Item 11: Consideration, with a view to adoption, of the draft regulations on exploitation of mineral resources in the Area.
Presentation of the Further Revised Consolidated Text of the draft regulations on exploitation of mineral resources in the Area.
Presentation of the indicative list of outstanding issues and examination by the Council. (Pursuant to Council decision ISBA/30/C/18, paragraph 7.)
Date/Time: Monday, March 9, 2026 10:00 - 13:00 EST
Location: Kenneth Rattray Conference Room
Type: Plenary
Documents:
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IPW
More Information
Council (Informal Meeting)
• Item 11: Negotiations on the Further Revised Consolidated Text.
Regulatory. Prevention of Corruption (Friends of the President, Netherlands). Draft regulations 40 – 1 hour.
Regulatory. Seabed Mining Register (Friends of the President, India). Draft regulations 92 – 1 hour.
Regulatory. Non-compliance Notice, Suspension and Termination of the Contract (Friends of the President, Netherlands). Draft regulation 103 – 1 hour.
Date/Time: Monday, March 9, 2026 15:00 - 18:00 EST
Location: Conference Room 4
Type: Plenary
Documents:
Tuesday, March 10
Council (Item 11: Negotiations on the Further Revised Consolidated Text).
• Item 11: Negotiations on the Further Revised Consolidated Text.
Environmental. Legal status of REMPs (Informal Working Group, Netherlands), Draft regulation 44bis (and draft regulations 7, 12, 14 and 15) – 1 hour.
Environmental. Environmental Goals and Objectives (Friends of the President, Germany). Draft regulation 44ter – 1 hour.
Environmental. Environmental Management and Monitoring (Informal Working Group, Norway). Draft regulations 49-52 – 1 hour.
Date/Time: Tuesday, March 10, 2026 10:00 - 13:00 EST
Type: Plenary
Council (Item 11: Negotiations on the Further Revised Consolidated Text)
• Item 11: Negotiations on the Further Revised Consolidated Text.
Environmental. Protection of Submarine Cables (Friends of the President, Singapore). Draft regulations 31 and 31 bis – 1 hour.
Environmental. Environmental Compensation Fund (Friends of the President, Mexico). Section 4 (draft regulation 54-56) – 1 hour.
Environmental. Closure Plans (Informal Working Group, Fiji). Draft regulations 59-61 and Annex VIII – 1 hour.
Date/Time: Tuesday, March 10, 2026 15:00 - 18:00 EST
Location: Kenneth Rattray Conference Room
Type: Plenary
Wednesday, March 11
Council (Item 11: Negotiations on the Further Revised Consolidated Text).
Item 11: Negotiations on the Further Revised Consolidated Text.
Financial. Financial System. Presentation on the fiscal model by IGF – 1 hour.
Financial. Equalization Measure (Informal Working Group, Australia). Draft regulation 64 bis and draft equalisation standard – 1 hour.
Financial. Payment system and Review of Payment Mechanism (Friends of the President, Canada). Draft regulations 81-82, Draft Standard and Guidelines and Schedule – 1 hour.
Date/Time: Wednesday, March 11, 2026 10:00 - 13:00 EST
Location: Kenneth Rattray Conference Room
Type: Plenary
Council (Item 11: Negotiations on the Further Revised Consolidated Text).
• Item 11: Negotiations on the Further Revised Consolidated Text.
Financial. Financial Incentives. Draft regulation 63.
Financial. Environmental Externalities in Royalty System Design. Draft regulation 64 ter.
Financial. Transfer Profit Share. Draft regulation 65 (and draft regulation 23, paragraph 6 bis).
Financial. Monopolization. Draft regulations 23, 107 and Schedule.
Date/Time: Wednesday, March 11, 2026 15:00 - 18:00 EST
Location: Kenneth Rattray Conference Room
Type: Plenary
Thursday, March 12
Council (Item 11: Negotiations on the Further Revised Consolidated Text).
• Item 11: Negotiations on the Further Revised Consolidated Text.
Regulatory. Effective Control (Informal Working Group, Chile, Costa Rica).
➢ Schedule and definition – 1.5 hours.
➢ Draft regulations 5-7, 13, 21, 24, 24bis, 40, Annex I – 1.5 hours.
Date/Time: Thursday, March 12, 2026 10:00 - 13:00 EST
Location: Kenneth Rattray Conference Room
Type: Plenary
Friends of the President on DR 57, Modification of a Plan of Work by a Contractor
Facilitated by the United Kingdom
Date/Time: Thursday, March 12, 2026 14:00 - 15:00 EST
Location: Conference Room 4
Type: Other
Council (Item 11: Negotiations on the Further Revised Consolidated Text).
• Item 11: Negotiations on the Further Revised Consolidated Text.
Governance. Rights and Interests of Coastal States (Informal Working Group, Portugal, Singapore). Draft regulations 4, 4bis and 93bis – 1.5 hours.
Governance. Underwater Cultural Heritage (Informal Working Group, Brazil, Greece, Micronesia). Draft regulations 35 and 35 Alt – 1.5 hours.
Date/Time: Thursday, March 12, 2026 15:00 - 18:00 EST
Location: Kenneth Rattray Conference Room
Type: Plenary
Friday, March 13
Council (Item 11: Negotiations on the Further Revised Consolidated Text).
Item 11: Negotiations on the Further Revised Consolidated Text.
Regulatory. ICE Mechanism and Establishment of the Compliance Committee (Informal Working Group, Norway).
- Part XI and in particular draft regulation 95 bis.
- Draft decision of the Council on the Compliance Committee.
- Draft Rules of Procedure and draft Compliance Strategy for the Compliance Committee.
Date/Time: Friday, March 13, 2026 10:00 - 13:00 EST
Location: Kenneth Rattray Conference Room
Type: Plenary
Council (Item 11: Negotiations on the Further Revised Consolidated Text).
• Item 11: Negotiations on the Further Revised Consolidated Text.
Regulatory. ICE Mechanism and Establishment of the Compliance Committee. Part XI.
Regulatory. Chief Inspector, Inspectors and Inspections. Draft regulations 96-101.
Date/Time: Friday, March 13, 2026 15:00 - 18:00 EST
Location: Kenneth Rattray Conference Room
Type: Plenary
Monday, March 16
Council (Items 7, 13, 15, & 19)
Item 7: Report of the Secretary-General on the status of contracts for exploration and related matters, including information on the periodic review of the implementation of approved plans of work for exploration.
Item 13: Report of the Chair of the Legal and Technical Commission on the work of the Commission at the first part of its thirty-first session. – Preliminary considerations on Council decision ISBA/30/C/19.
Item 15: Report of the Secretary-General concerning the operationalization of the Economic Planning Commission.
- Draft decision of the Council on the election and establishment of the Economic Planning Commission.
Item 19: Report of the Secretary-General on the engagement and cooperation with BBNJ bodies and processes.
- Draft decision of the Council on engagement with bodies and processes under the Agreement on Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction (ISBA/31/C/2 (AUV), Annex).
Date/Time: Monday, March 16, 2026 10:00 - 13:00 EST
Location: Kenneth Rattray Conference Room
Type: Plenary
Informal Working Group on ICE mechanism
Facilitated by the Government of Norway
Date/Time: Monday, March 16, 2026 14:00 - 15:00 EST
Location: Conference Room 4
Type: Working Group
Council (Item 11: Negotiations on the Further Revised Consolidated Text).
Item 11: Negotiations on the Further Revised Consolidated Text.
Environmental. Test Mining and Pilot Mining (Informal Working Group, Belgium, China, Germany), Draft regulation 48ter (and draft regulations 7,11,12,13,46,48, 48 bis, Annex VII and Schedule) – 2 hours.
Regulatory. Modification of a Plan of Work (Friends of the President, U.K.). Draft regulation 57 – 1 hour.
Date/Time: Monday, March 16, 2026 15:00 - 18:00 EST
Location: Kenneth Rattray Conference Room
Type: Plenary
Tuesday, March 17
Council (Item 11: Negotiations on the Further Revised Consolidated Text)
Item 11: Negotiations on the Further Revised Consolidated Text
Annexes and Schedule.
Date/Time: Tuesday, March 17, 2026 10:00 - 13:00 EST
Location: Kenneth Rattray Conference Room
Type: Plenary
Informal Working Group on ICE mechanism
Facilitated by the Government of Norway
Date/Time: Tuesday, March 17, 2026 14:00 - 15:00 EST
Location: Conference Room 4
Type: Working Group
Council (Item 11: Negotiations on the Further Revised Consolidated Text).
Item 11: Negotiations on the Further Revised Consolidated Text.
Annexes and Schedule.
Date/Time: Tuesday, March 17, 2026 15:00 - 18:00 EST
Location: Kenneth Rattray Conference Room
Type: Plenary