Kingston, Jamaica – 29 May 2026 – This year, the International Day for Biological Diversity calls us to “act locally for global impact,” a principle that resonates deeply with the scientists working to document life in the most remote reaches of our oceans. In the deep seabed, where darkness, cold and crushing pressure define the environment, most species remain unknown to science. Identifying, naming and describing them, the work of taxonomists, is one of the most locally grounded acts in biology research which requires hands-on study of individual specimens from sparse sites. And yet its impact is unmistakably global. Named species can be tracked, protected and incorporated into the international frameworks that govern our shared ocean, including the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF), which sets ambitious targets to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030. The work of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) also depends on this knowledge to fulfill its responsibilities under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea – to regulate and control mineral-related activities in the international seabed Area while protecting the marine environment – and to ensure the sustainable development of deep-sea activities.

Kingston, Jamaica – 22 May 2026 – This year, the International Day for Biological Diversity’s call to ‘act locally for global impact’ aligns directly with the International Seabed Authority’s Marine Scientific Research Action Plan, which seeks to advance scientific knowledge of deep-sea ecosystems, its biodiversity and ecological functions, and the potential impacts of exploration and exploitation activities. By studying specific (local) areas of the deep seabed, research findings can be standardized, shared, and applied at a global scale, from refining methodologies for biodiversity assessments, to building the scientific capacity of developing States, to informing the governance decisions that affect the entire international seabed area, which covers nearly 54% of the global ocean, and is called “the Area.”.

Kingston, Jamaica – 4 May 2026 – The Area, the seabed and ocean floor beyond national jurisdiction, covers as much as 54 per cent of the ocean. The adoption of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) established a comprehensive legal framework governing ocean space, resources, and activities, and created the International Seabed Authority (ISA) to organize and control activities related to mineral resources in the international seabed area for the benefit of humankind. Further, it is uniquely mandated under UNCLOS to encourage the conduct of marine scientific research and disseminate its results.

Kingston, Jamaica – 24 April 2026 – Every year on 25 April, the international community marks the International Day for Small Island Developing States (SIDS). The date commemorates the opening of the 1994 Barbados Global Conference, the first major United Nations conference dedicated to implementing Agenda 21, the sustainable development of SIDS. In the last 30 years, SIDS have moved from the margins to centrality in relation to international ocean governance. As stewards of nearly a third of the world’s ocean, their voice in decisions about how the deep sea is managed and who benefits from its resources must be fully integrated and visible. The Day highlights the unique environmental, social and economic challenges faced by these States while recognizing their leadership in ocean stewardship and climate action.

Kingston, Jamaica – 26 March 2026 – The deep seabed is teeming with life. From the sediment plains of the abyssal zone to the extreme pressures of hadal trenches, species have evolved over millions of years into forms of extraordinary complexity and resilience. Scientists and governments alike are actively investing in understanding the biodiversity of the deep seabed. That growing body of knowledge equips decision makers to act responsibly and ensure global stewardship of the deep seabed.