The International Seabed Authority (ISA) today announced that all activities for the rest of 2020, under the Endowment Fund for Marine Scientific Research in the international seabed area (the Area) will be postponed, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Consequently, no new applications will be reviewed during 2020.

The Secretariat of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) has commissioned a study to assesses the potential impact of polymetallic nodules production from the international deep seabed area (the Area) on the economies of developing land-based producer States of metals, which would be most seriously affected.

Blue Minerals Jamaica Limited (BMJ), a company sponsored by the Government of Jamaica, has applied for approval of a plan of work from the International Seabed Authority (ISA) for the exploration of polymetallic nodules in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone, located in the Pacific Ocean.

Today, the International Seabed Authority (ISA) marked the occasion of World Oceans Day on 8 June at the United Nations virtual event ‘Innovation for a Sustainable Ocean,’ where leading voices from around the globe convened to celebrate the role of the oceans in everyday life and inspire action to protect the ocean and the sustainable use of marine resources.

The International Seabed Authority (ISA) today launched its new website to provide its Member States and the wider ISA community with an improved user experience.

The International Seabed Authority (ISA) has donated $3,000 USD and furniture from its headquarters in downtown Kingston, to the Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC) to help address the impact on human health and well-being, in particular for the most vulnerable groups of the society, namely the homeless population living in Kingston. ISA staff have also contributed an additional $2000 to the donation through their Staff Association.

The International Seabed Authority (ISA) today announced that the second part of the 26^th session of ISA initially scheduled to be held in July 2020 will be postponed, due to the COVID-19 epidemic. The session will instead take place in a reduced format in Kingston, Jamaica from 7 to 16 October 2020, with meetings of some of the technical bodies convened remotely starting from July 2020.

The Secretary-General of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) Mr. Michael W. Lodge welcomed H.E. Felix Ramon Garcia Tavera, as the Permanent Representative of the Dominican Republic to ISA, on 24 February 2020.

Statement by ISA Secretary-General Michael Lodge