News

On 3 December 2020, members of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) reelected Mr. Michael W. Lodge as Secretary-General for a second term commencing in January 2021. Following his reelection, Secretary-General Lodge will serve another 4-year term for the period 2021-2024.

The 26^th Session of the Assembly of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) formally decided to name its deep-sea exploration museum in honour of its former Secretary-General, Mr Nii Allotey Odunton, recognizing his contribution to the advancement of the mandate of the Organization.  

Mr Nii Allotey Odunton, from Ghana, served as ISA Secretary-General from 2009 to 2016.

Located at the headquarters of the Authority, the “Nii Allotey Odunton Museum” was formally launched in July 2019, on the margins of the 25^th Anniversary of ISA.

Today the International Seabed Authority (ISA) opened its international workshop on the development of a Regional Environmental Management Plan (REMP) for the Area of the Northern Mid-Atlantic Ridge with a focus on polymetallic sulphides (PMS) deposits.

Today the International Seabed Authority (ISA) held a high-level webinar to present the draft Action Plan developed in support of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development.

The main purpose of this high-level event was to present the key components of the draft Action Plan by highlighting how it represents the objectives identified for the UN Decade and the six strategic research priorities around which ISA will mobilize its actions in a complementary and synergistic manner.

Today, the International Seabed Authority (ISA) and China officially launched the Joint Training and Research Centre (JTRC) established under the memorandum of understanding that was approved by the ISA Assembly during its 25^th session, to offer training to aspiring professionals from developing countries in deep-sea related science.

The Secretariat of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) will organize a High-Level webinar to present the draft ISA Marine Scientific Research (MSR) Action Plan in support of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (ISBA/26/A/4) which will formally begin in 2021.

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”) .