Kingston, Jamaica – 24 February 2026 – As the International Seabed Authority (ISA) prepares for the 31st session of its Council in March, attention is once again focused on the development of the Rules, Regulations and Procedures governing mineral-related activities in the international seabed area, commonly referred to as the Mining Code. This phase of work reflects a continued effort to build a robust, coherent and legally sound regulatory framework under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). In this edition of Ask an Expert, we spoke with ISA Legal Counsel and the Director of the Office of Legal Affairs, Ms. Mariana Durney, to learn more about how the ISA’s governance structure shapes regulatory development and what lies ahead for the Council in the upcoming 31st session.

Hailing from Nigeria, the path for Oluyemisi Oluwadare into deep-sea science was neither linear nor accidental. Trained initially as an exploration geochemist and economic geologist, Oluwadare worked for over two decades with the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency (NGSA) where she supported regional geochemical mapping and delineated mineral prospectivity zones to support investment engagement, resource assessments, and subsequent exploration drilling programmes. With Oluwadare’s extensive background in terrestrial mining systems and her curiosity to expand her scientific horizon, the scale, processes, and resource potential of the deep sea presented an exciting new frontier to explore. Her formal transition into marine geoscience began with ISA’s Deep Dive Online Training Programme, where she completed all three modules consecutively, graduating in 2023. The Deep Dive offered her first structured exposure to the scientific, legal and governance dimensions of the deep seabed, from mineral resources and environmental protection to the science-policy interface that underpins international ocean governance.

An interview with Mr. Bruno Pozzi, Deputy to the Secretary-General and Chef de Cabinet, International Seabed Authority

The ocean covers more than 70 per cent of the Earth’s surface. It regulates the climate, supports biodiversity, provides food and sustains the livelihoods of billions of people worldwide. Crucially, if managed sustainably, it also holds vast untapped potential to help humanity thrive, from potentially life-saving marine genetic resources to mineral resources.