ISA-China JTRC Training Workshop on Cumulative Impact Assessment for Effective Protection of the Marine Environment in the Area: Methods, Case Studies, and Best Practices

27 May 2026 - 5 Jun 2026

The International Seabed Authority (ISA) and the Ministry of Natural Resources of China will host the Fourth Training Workshop of the ISA–China Joint Training and Research Centre (JTRC). The workshop will focus on strengthening scientific and technical capacity related to cumulative impact assessment (CIA) in Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (ABNJ) and will address the growing need for holistic assessment approaches that consider multiple pressures on deep-sea ecosystems, including anthropogenic activities and climate-related stressors.

Workshop: Cumulative Impact Assessment for Effective Protection of the Marine Environment in the Area: Methods, Case Studies, and Best Practices

Dates: 27 May – 5 June 2026

Where: Sanya, Hainan Province, China

The programme of work will be structured around seven agenda items that combine to provide a holistic understanding of cumulative effects in the Area:

• Agenda item 1. UNCLOS and the 1994 Agreement
• Agenda item 2. Introduction to the deep-sea resources and environment
• Agenda item 3. Data as the corner stone of science and impact assessment
• Agenda item 4. Impact Assessment methods: evolving from single to cumulative impacts – definitions and methodologies
• Agenda item 5. Cumulative impact assessment: from modelling approaches to application in global regulatory context
• Agenda item 6. Protection of the marine environment
• Agenda item 7. Technology development for exploration in the deep-sea