New York, 5 November 2025 – More than 40 representatives from nearly 30 members of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) and international organizations participated in a workshop on “Interactions between the International Seabed Authority and BBNJ Agreement bodies and processes,” co-organized by the Permanent Missions of Fiji, Jamaica, Malta and Singapore, in partnership with the Secretariat of the International Seabed Authority (ISA).
The workshop was opened with welcoming remarks delivered successively by the Ambassadors of the co-sponsoring States:
- H.E. Mr. Burhan Gafoor, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Singapore to the United Nations
- H.E. Ms. Cheryl Spencer, Permanent Representative of Jamaica to the International Seabed Authority
- H.E. Ms. Natasha Meli, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Malta to the United Nations
- MR. Vueti May, Deputy Permanent Representative of the Republic of Fiji to the United Nations
Ambassador Burhan Gafoor pointed out that this workshop “is very timely”, and “it is essential for ISA members to consider how the ISA is to engage with BBNJ Agreement bodies and processes”. Ambassador Cheryl Spencer highlighted that the intersection of the two frameworks “presents a unique opportunity to foster coherence, avoid fragmentation and promote inclusive governance”. Ambassador Natasha Meli emphasized that the principle of “not undermining” existing institutions must be applied in a way that “fosters mutual reinforcement, not fragmentation, of our global ocean governance architecture”. Mr. Vueti May stressed the need to “ensure seamless and a complementary approach towards addressing the common objectives”.
Madam Leticia Reis de Carvalho, Secretary-General of the ISA, Madam Rena Lee, Ambassador of International Law of the Republic of Singapore, and Ms. Elinor Hammarskjöld, Under-Secretary-General for Legal Affairs and United Nations Legal Counsel (represented by Mr. Vladimir Jares, Director of the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea of the Office of Legal Affairs), delivered keynote addresses, underscoring the importance of cooperation and coherence between the ISA and the BBNJ Agreement bodies and processes within the framework of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. Madam Leticia Carvalho highlighted that 30 years of management experience of the ISA “has outlined the contours for the conservation and sustainable development of the deep sea beyond national jurisdiction, which can become assets and parameters for the BBNJ Agreement”. Ambassador Rena Lee reflected that Member States “can drive greater cooperation and coordination between the two organizations”. Mr. Vladimir Jares on behalf of Ms. Elinor Hammarskjöld emphasized that “working in tandem with the BBNJ Agreement,” the ISA “can make essential contributions in efforts to conserve and sustainably use deep-sea ecosystems and biodiversity”.
The morning continued with three interactive panel sessions, bringing together nine high ranking panelists from member States sharing their insights structured around the three guiding questions of each panel. Panelists emphasized the need to uphold the principles of “not to undermine” and “to promote coherence and coordination,” as enshrined in the BBNJ Agreement. Panelists reaffirmed the clear and distinct mandate of the ISA under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and expressed their shared expectation that both the ISA and the BBNJ Agreement will succeed in advancing the conservation and sustainable use of the ocean and its resources. Panelists also recommended a precautionary approach to potential overlapping areas and highlighted the importance of establishing practical institutional arrangements to ensure effective cooperation and coordination. Panelists further underscored the need for the involvement of relevant ISA organs in policy deliberations related to engagement with BBNJ Agreement bodies and processes.
The first panel examined the overall relationship between the ISA and the BBNJ Agreement bodies and processes, contributed by the following panelists:
- H.E. Mr. Andreas Løvold, Deputy Permanent Representative of Norway to the United Nations
- Ms. Lanla Kamara-Joyner, Minister Plenipotentiary of the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Sierra Leone to the United Nations
- Mr. Sebastián Nicolino, Minister Counsellor of the Permanent Mission of the Argentine Republic to the United Nations
- Mr. Linlin LI, Counsellor and Legal Adviser of the Permanent Mission of China to the UN
Ambassador Andreas Løvold emphasized the importance of complementarity and an integrated and holistic approach in line with each of their mandates, internal coordination within the respective states, transparency and information exchange between the organs of the ISA and BBNJ. Ms. Lanla Kamara-Joyner highlighted that as the Agreement takes effect, “an essential guiding principle should be to ensure complementarity, building on existing architectures and avoiding duplication and the overstepping of boundaries that could potentially undermine the Convention.” Mr. Sebastián Nicolino pointed out that the ISA’s decision-making and advisory bodies — particularly the Council, the Legal and Technical Commission, and the Secretariat , should frame engagement with BBNJ around three key objectives: ensuring consistency with the UNCLOS and Part XI in particular; safeguarding the Authority’s mandate over the Area; and promoting mutually reinforcing cooperation with the BBNJ framework, stressing that the rule of law, scientific integrity and shared responsibility should guide the ISA and the BBNJ framework to build a truly cooperative architecture. Mr. Linlin Li suggested a precautionary approach with respect to achieving the “not undermine” requirement prescribed in Article 5 of the BBNJ Agreement and a formal agenda item on the relationship between the BBNJ mechanism and the Area regime for the 2026 Assembly and Council meetings of the ISA.
The second panel explored the implications of envisaged BBNJ measures such as area-based management tools including marine protected areas on the work of the ISA, contributed by the following panelists:
- H.E. Mr. Milan Meetarbhan, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Mauritius to the United Nations
- H.E. Mr. Tomohiro Mikanagi, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Deputy Permanent Representative of Japan to the United Nations, Ambassador-at-Large for Cooperation on International Law
- H.E. Mr. Duncan Laki Muhumuza, Deputy Permanent Representative of the Republic of Uganda to the UN
Ambassador Milan Meetarbhan elaborated that “the overall institutional framework to be put in place for both UNCLOS and BBNJ Agreement should ensure complementary and not competing jurisdictions”, and suggested an integrated administrative machinery to ensure a holistic approach to all issues pertaining to resources in the area beyond national jurisdiction. Ambassador Tomohiro Mikanagi emphasized the importance of continuous information sharing and consultation from an early stage, unified national approach and development of exploitation regulations, encouraging widest possible participation by States in the BBNJ Agreement. Ambassador Duncan Laki Muhumuza believed that the areas to be conflicting would be limited and stressed the need of furthering cooperation and coordination to ensure the ISA and the BBNJ Agreement a success.
The third panel focused on areas for further cooperation and coordination such as environmental impact assessments and capacity-building and the transfer of marine technology, contributed by the following panelists:
- H.E. Mr. Leonaitasi Kuluni, Deputy Permanent Representative of the Permanent Mission of the Kingdom of Tonga to the United Nations
- Ms. Angelique Pouponneau, Ocean Advisor of the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Palau to the United Nations
Ambassador Leonaitasi Kuluni highlighted that the experience of the ISA could be a starting point for the BBNJ Agreement in understanding applicable frameworks in existence in areas beyond national jurisdiction and their application, and that the valuable insights and experience of the ISA LTC could meaningfully assist and inform the work of the BBNJ Bodies. Ms. Angelique Pouponneau explored specific areas for collaboration between the ISA and BBNJ, indicating that collaborations are subsidiary bodies/organs talking to each other.
The workshop was concluded with reflections from Mr. Nathaniel Khng, Minister Counsellor of the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Singapore to the UN and Mr. Bruno Pozzi, Deputy to the Secretary General of the ISA. Both highlighted the constructive outcome of the discussions and the importance of continuing dialogue as the international community seeks to implement the BBNJ Agreement while safeguarding the integrity of the ISA’s mandate.
The outcomes of the workshop are likely to inform future policy deliberations of the ISA.
Statements made by Member States during the workshop are accessible here.
About BBNJ
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 (BBNJ Agreement) is a landmark international treaty, the overall objective of which is the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction, for the present and in the long-term, through effective implementation of the relevant provisions of the Convention and further international cooperation and coordination.
About ISA
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 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:
ISA Communications Unit, news@isa.org.jm
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