The International Seabed Authority (ISA) has launched two art competitions to celebrate the deep sea on World Oceans Day 2021. World Ocean Day takes place on 8 June each year as a global celebration of the ocean, marine life and all ocean activities. World Oceans Day was first declared at the 1992 Global Forum in Rio de Janeiro, with the aim to bring the ocean to the center of global discussions and policy decision-making processes, and to strengthen the voice of ocean and coastal constituencies worldwide. For the United Nations and its partners, World Oceans Day is a day for scientists, policymakers and citizens to grow closer and interact around the key and emerging challenges our ocean faces today. 

The International Seabed Authority (ISA) is inviting comments from stakeholders on the draft Communications and Stakeholder Engagement Strategy prepared by the Secretariat.

The Secretariat of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) will organize a High-Level webinar to present the draft ISA Marine Scientific Research (MSR) Action Plan in support of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (ISBA/26/A/4) which will formally begin in 2021.

Today the International Seabed Authority (ISA) issued a video statement by the Secretary-General, Mr Michael W. Lodge, providing a progress report on the work of ISA over the last months. 

The Secretariat of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) will organize a follow-up webinar to present the findings of the comparative analysis of the financial aspects of seabed mining and land-based mining, as well as the developments on the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) financial model, as requested by the Council during its last meetings in February 2020.

The members of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) have endorsed a proposal by the President of the 25^th Session of the Assembly to take decisions of a procedural nature during the 26^th Session of the Assembly, including its opening, through a silence procedure similar to the process adopted by the 30^th Meeting of States Parties to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

The International Seabed Authority (ISA) is inviting proposals for a consultancy to develop an Action Plan to increase public deep-sea literacy and understanding of the legal framework for activities in the international seabed area (the Area).

The International Seabed Authority (ISA) is inviting proposals for a consultancy to develop a strategic roadmap to implement scientific programmes under the Endowment Fund for Marine Scientific Research (MSR) in the international seabed area (“the Area”).

The Council of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) has endorsed a proposal by the Acting Council President to take decisions of a procedural nature during the second part of the 26^th Session, including its resumption, through a silence procedure, similar to the process  adopted by the 30^th Meeting of States Parties to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).