The International Seabed Authority wound up its fifteenth annual session in Kingston 5 June after nearly two weeks of intensive negotiations without finalizing a text on a set of regulations that would govern the exploration of polymetallic sulphides in deep oceans beyond national jurisdiction.

The Secretariat presented a review of outstanding issues concerning the draft regulations on prospecting and exploration for polymetallic sulphides in the Area (ISBA/15/C/WP.2). This 25-paragraph working paper, with three annexes, covers additional background on the outstanding issues with respect to the draft, which the Council had agreed to consider at this session. A revised text of the entire draft regulations (ISBA/15/C/WP.1), harmonized in all official languages, and incorporating the revisions, was also presented to Council.

The International Seabed Authority began its fifteenth session in Kingston this afternoon with the election of the presidents of its two top bodies – the Assembly and Council – and the adoption of their agendas for the annual gathering scheduled to conclude on 5 June.

The International Seabed Authority will attempt to resolve all outstanding issues in the draft regulatory regimes for prospecting and exploration for polymetallic sulphides and cobalt-rich ferromanganese crusts in the deep seabed with the aim of adopting the texts at its fifteenth session in Kingston, Jamaica from 25 May to 5 June 2009.

The International Seabed Authority will attempt to resolve all outstanding issues in the draft regulatory regimes for prospecting and exploration for polymetallic sulphides and cobalt-rich ferromanganese crusts in the deep seabed with the aim of adopting the texts at its fifteenth session in Kingston, Jamaica from 25 May to 5 June 2009.

The National Institute of Oceanography (NIO)  and the International Seabed Authority (ISA) today launched the Technical Assistance Program for Marine Scientific Research (TAP-MAR) for qualified professionals,

The International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) recently announced its capacity-building and training programme on dispute settlement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (“The Convention”) for 2009-2010.

A sensitization seminar on the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, the work of the Authority and on marine mineral resources of the South  Atlantic Ocean, will be convened jointly by the ISA and the Nigerian Inter ministerial Standing Committee in Abuja, Nigeria between 24 and 26 March 2009.

InterRidge (IR) a non-profit organisation concerned with promoting all aspects of mid-ocean ridge research (their study, use and protection) which can be achieved by international cooperation has announced its partnership with the International Seabed Authority Endowment Fund for the Interidge Student and Postdoctoral Fellowship Program for 2009-2011.