News

Today the International Seabed Authority (ISA) issued a video statement by the Secretary-General, Mr Michael W. Lodge, providing a progress report on the work of ISA over the last months. 

Noting that although the COVID-19 pandemic has forced ISA to adjust to new working conditions and constraints, the ISA Secretary-General stressed the remarkable progress made by the Organization in the execution of its work. In so doing, the Secretary-General commended the staff of the Secretariat for their resilience and ongoing dedication and commitment.

Ambassador Denys Wibaux, Permanent Representative of the Republic of France to the International Seabed Authority (ISA) has been elected as President of the 26th Session of the Assembly of ISA.

The election by Assembly members formally took effect on 29 October 2020, through a silence procedure similar to the process adopted by the 30th Meeting of States Parties to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

The workshop on the ‘Development of a Regional Environmental Management Plan for the Area of the Northwest Pacific,’ organized by the International Seabed Authority (ISA), in collaboration with the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries of the Republic of Korea (MOF) and the Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology (KIOST), opened today via a virtual platform.

The Secretariat of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) will organize a follow-up webinar to present
the findings of the comparative analysis of the financial aspects of seabed mining and land-based mining,
as well as the developments on the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) financial model, as
requested by the Council during its last meetings in February 2020.

Argentina has agreed to serve as the International Seabed Authority’s (ISA’s) Champion of the Draft Marine Scientific Research (MSR) Action Plan prepared by ISA to contribute to the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030), as declared by its Permanent Representative to ISA, H. E. Luis del Solar Dorrego.

The 26^th Session of the ISA Assembly was declared open today by the President of the 25^th Session, Senator the Hon. Kamina Johnson Smith, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of Jamaica, who also submitted to all members of ISA a draft decision on the procedure for adoption of decisions by the Assembly through a silence procedure, similar to the process adopted by the 30^th Meeting of States Parties to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Rear Admiral Alam of Bangladesh has been elected as President of the 26th Session of the Council of the International Seabed Authority (ISA). The election by Council members formally took effect on 1 October 2020, through a silence procedure similar to the process adopted by the 30th Meeting of States Parties to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

The members of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) have endorsed a proposal by the President of the 25^th Session of the Assembly to take decisions of a procedural nature during the 26^th Session of the Assembly, including its opening, through a silence procedure similar to the process adopted by the 30^th Meeting of States Parties to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

The ‘Workshop on DeepData: Focusing on Data Management Strategy,’ organized by the International Seabed Authority (ISA), opened this week with a key focus on developing strategic approaches for collaboration to promote exchange and sharing of deep-sea data, and improve scientific knowledge of deep-sea ecosystems in the international seabed area (the “Area”) .

The United Nations at 75

JAMAICA, Kingston

21 September 2020
 

STATEMENT

by

Mr. Michael W. Lodge

Secretary-General of the International Seabed Authority

……………………

The International Seabed Authority (ISA) is inviting proposals for a consultancy to develop an Action Plan to increase public deep-sea literacy and understanding of the legal framework for activities in the international seabed area (the Area).

The 'Deep-Sea Taxonomic Standardization,’ workshop organized by the International Seabed Authority (ISA), in collaboration with the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries of the Republic of Korea (MOF), and the National Marine Biodiversity Institute of Korea (MABIK), opened today with a key focus on developing strategic approaches for collaboration to improve the standardization of deep-sea taxonomic information, and strengthen collective scientific knowledge of deep-sea biodiversity. 

The Council of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) has endorsed a proposal by the Acting Council President to take decisions of a procedural nature during the second part of the 26^th Session, including its resumption, through a silence procedure, similar to the process  adopted by the 30^th Meeting of States Parties to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

The International Seabed Authority (ISA) is inviting proposals for a consultancy to develop a strategic roadmap to implement scientific programmes under the Endowment Fund for Marine Scientific Research (MSR) in the international seabed area (“the Area”).

The newly appointed Permanent Representatives of Bangladesh, Japan, and Korea to the International Seabed Authority (ISA), presented their credentials to ISA Secretary-General Mr. Michael W. Lodge at a series of virtual and in-person ceremonies held in Kingston, Jamaica, this week.