Madam Secretary-General statement on the upcoming entry into force of the BBNJ Agreement

Kingston, Jamaica – 22 September 2026 – I am so pleased to welcome a historic moment in the sustainable conservation and use of the world’s oceans: the 60th ratification on 19 September 2025 which marks the satisfaction of the condition for the entry into force of 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”) .

ISA Council concludes second part of its 30th session

Kingston, Jamaica – 15 August 2025 – On 21 July 2025, the Council of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) concluded the second part of its thirtieth session, advancing its work in the development of regulations governing the exploitation of mineral resources in the Area.

Statement at the third United Nations Ocean Conference

Nice, France – 12 June 2025 -The high-level 2025 United Nations Ocean Conference to support the Implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development  took place in Nice, France, from 9 to 12 June 2025, co-hosted by France and Costa Rica.

In celebration of the thirtieth anniversary of the International Seabed Authority

The thirtieth anniversary of the establishment of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) marks a significant milestone in the history of international ocean governance. Over the past three decades, ISA has emerged as a central institution of global ocean architecture, safeguarding the common heritage of humankind and charting a course towards the responsible and sustainable exploitation of seabed mineral resources for the benefit of all.