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Senior governments officials and experts from Pacific Small Island Developing States (P-SIDS) of the four sponsoring States (Cook Islands, Kiribati, Nauru and Tonga) convened at regional workshops held in Nauru and Kiribati, last week to boost the capacity of P-SIDS in marine scientific research and raise awareness of the legal aspects of deep seabed activities undertaken beyond national jurisdiction.

Initiating a series of visits in the Pacific region, the International Seabed Authority (ISA)’s Secretary-General Mr. Michael W. Lodge, met with the Prime Minister of Fiji, Mr. Frank Bainimarama, as well as other high-level officials to discuss the sustainable development of mineral resources in the international deep seabed area and the commitment of the Organization to ensure increased participation of Pacific Islands Developing States (P-SIDS) in its work. 
 

Heads of States and Government, ministers, former Secretary-Generals, United Nations officials and observers who attended the Special Commemorative Session of the Assembly of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) in Kingston on 25 July 2019 commended ISA on its efforts towards advancing the sustainable development of mineral resources for the benefit of all mankind over the last 25 years.

A special Session of the Assembly of the International Seabed Authority (ISA), which includes all 168 Members of ISA, will be held at the Jamaica Conference Centre on 25 July to commemorate ISA’s 25th anniversary.

The second edition of the Secretary General’s Award for Excellence in Deep-Sea Research will be held in the morning, followed by a high-level panel on capacity building co-chaired by H.E. Baron Waqa, President of Nauru.

The International Seabed Authority (ISA) Assembly opened its historic 25th Session in Kingston, Jamaica today, with High-level representatives from 72 countries commemorating ISA on its efforts towards achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and reflecting on ISA’s unique role as custodian of the common heritage of mankind.

Outgoing Assembly President Mariusz-Orion Jędrysek of Poland underscored that this year marks an important milestone for ISA, highlighting key objectives and challenges of the Assembly over the next 25 years.

Tonga Offshore Mining Limited (TOML) together with Estrutura de Missão para a Extensão da Plataforma Continental (EMEPC) of Portugal have donated a black smoker chimney to the International Seabed Authority (ISA) Gallery in Kingston, Jamaica, ahead of ISA’s 25th Anniversary commemorative ceremony on 25 July 2019. 

Part II of the 25^th Session of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) Council opened in Kingston, Jamaica this week with a key focus on the development of the draft exploitation regulations for minerals in the international seabed area, along with other regulatory matters.

Representatives from Member States and Observers are gathered here from 15 to 19 July to carry out a first reading of the draft exploitation regulations for commercial deep seabed mining and continue discussions around the payment mechanism for mineral exploitations.

The 25th Session of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) Part II opens on 15 July with the ISA Council in Kingston, Jamaica, where Member States and Observers are set to commemorate ISA’s 25th Anniversary and continue their discussions around the draft exploitation regulations for commercial deep seabed mining in the international deep seabed area, amongst other matters. 

China this week presented the International Seabed Authority (ISA) with several pieces including models of research vessels and submersibles, for the Gallery established within the Secretariat of the Organization to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of its existence.

Ambassador Tian Qi, Permanent Representative of the People’s Republic of China to ISA, handed the models over to the Secretary-General Mr. Michael W. Lodge at an official ceremony organized at the headquarters of ISA, in Kingston, Jamaica, on 25 June.  

Deep seabed mining has the potential to accelerate progress towards achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development by increasing scientific knowledge of the deep ocean whilst at the same time providing opportunities for economic growth on the basis of fairness and equity , highlighted Mr. Michael W. Lodge, Secretary-General of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) at the High-Level UN Global Compact meeting held in Oslo, Norway, last week.

The 2019 edition of World Oceans Day 2019 (WOD) was launched in Kingston, Jamaica, on 7 June with the International Seabed Authority (ISA) Open Day, held in partnership with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade (MFAFT) of Jamaica and the Caribbean Maritime University (CMU).

High-level representatives from African States, international organizations and experts on law of the sea, policy, mining, environment protection and geology convened at a regional workshop from 16 to 18 May, organized in Pretoria by the International Seabed Authority (ISA), in partnership with the Government of the Republic of South Africa and the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad).

Mr. Michael W. Lodge, Secretary General of ISA and Mr. Vladimir Ryabinin, Executive Secretary of IOC-UNESCO

There has never been a time of greater promise or greater challenge for the future of our oceans. This is the topic on everyone’s minds as the international community gathers in Copenhagen this week for the first Global Planning Meeting for the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030).

To mark the 25th Anniversary of the International Seabed Authority (ISA), the Government of the People’s Republic of China pledged extraordinary support to the programmes and initiatives of ISA that encourage increased participation of developing States, including in marine scientific research activities, and promote the sustainable development of mineral resources in the international deep seabed area.

The Secretary-General of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) has released a first draft of the High-Level Action Plan for the International Seabed Authority for the 2019-2023 period as well as draft Key Performance Indicators for public consultation on Friday 3 May 2019.

To facilitate submissions and comments, a list of general and specific questions has been prepared as a guide and can be accessed via the website: https://www.isa.org.jm/strategic-plan