ISA Sustainable Seabed Knowledge Initiative roadmap to 2025 establishes an inclusive collaborative partners network to unlock biodiversity knowledge in the Area

On 1 December 2022, the Secretariat of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) successfully concluded the inception workshop of its Sustainable Seabed Knowledge Initiative (SSKI) with the adoption of a clear roadmap of activities to achieve tangible outputs for sustainably advancing the understanding of biodiversity in the deep ocean by 2025. The workshop, organized in collaboration with the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF) of the Republic of Korea, took place from 29 November to 1 December 2022 at the National Marine Biodiversity Institute of Korea (MABIK) in Seocheon, Korea.

ISA emphasizes the importance of strengthening multilateralism in ocean affairs for the sustainable management of global public goods at the ASEAN Conference on the 40th Anniversary of UNCLOS

On Tuesday, 29 November 2022, the Secretary-General of the International Seabed Authority (ISA), H.E. Mr. Michael W. Lodge, was invited to address the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Regional Conference organized in celebration of the 40th anniversary of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

ISA successfully concludes workshop on enhancing genetic approaches to advance deep-sea taxonomy for biodiversity assessment in the Area

On Friday, 25 November 2022, the International Seabed Authority (ISA) successfully concluded a three-day workshop on enhancing genetic approaches to advance deep-sea taxonomy for biodiversity assessment. The workshop was organized in collaboration with the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries of the Republic of Korea (MOF) and the National Marine Biodiversity Institute of Korea (MABIK) in Seocheon, Korea. It gathered experts from the scientific community, ISA exploration contractors, government and regional organizations from 20 countries attending either in person or remotely.

ISA and the Ministry of Ocean and Fisheries of the Republic of Korea strengthen their partnership in support of deep-sea research, data management, sustainable development of seabed minerals and capacity development

On 24 November 2022, the Secretary-General of the International Seabed Authority (ISA), H.E. Mr. Michael W. Lodge, and the Honorable Minister of Oceans and Fisheries of the Republic of Korea, H.E. Mr. Seung-hwan Cho, formalized a renewed partnership between the ISA Secretariat and the Ministry of Ocean and Fisheries (MOF) to further strengthen collaboration in deep-sea exploration, scientific research and the sustainable development of seabed mineral resources in the international seabed area (the Area).

ISA Council closes Part III of its meetings and concludes its 27th session

The Council of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) closed the meetings of Part III of its 27th session on Friday, 11 November 2022, ending the 27th session of ISA. The Council met in person for ten days. A total of 30 of the 36 Members of the Council were in attendance, along with 16 other Members and 12 observers. The main item on the agenda was the draft regulations on the exploitation of mineral resources in the Area prepared by the Legal and Technical Commission (LTC) and submitted to the Council in March 2019 (ISBA/25/C/WP.1). The Council also discussed other processes and documents necessary to support the sustainable development of mineral resources in the Area and agreed on a plan of work for 2023.

​​​​​​​ISA Council opens Part III of its 27th session

The Council of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) opened the meetings of Part III of its 27th session on Monday, 31 October 2022. The Council will meet in person for ten days until 11 November 2022. The main item on the agenda of the Council is the draft regulations on the exploitation of mineral resources in the Area (ISBA/25/C/WP.1) prepared by the Legal and Technical Commission and submitted to the Council in March 2019.

The 2022 Women in the Law of the Sea Conference opens in New York to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the adoption of UNCLOS

On 26 September 2022, the Secretary-General of the International Seabed Authority (ISA), H.E. Mr. Michael W. Lodge, opened the first ever Women in the Law of the Sea Conference in New York in celebration of the 40th anniversary of the adoption of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). The conference is organized by ISA in partnership with the Permanent Mission of Singapore to the United Nations and the Permanent Mission of Malta to ISA and the United Nations. It will take place from 26 to 28 September 2022 in a hybrid format, gathering over 330 registered participants joining either from the Permanent Mission of Singapore, the United Nations headquarters in New York or remotely.