Kingston, Jamaica – 22 September 2026 – I am so pleased to welcome a historic moment in the sustainable conservation and use of the world’s oceans: the 60th ratification on 19 September 2025 which marks the satisfaction of the condition for the entry into force of the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction (“BBNJ Agreement”) .
The BBNJ Agreement represents a pivotal moment in the global commitment to the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity in the areas beyond national jurisdiction. The International Seabed Authority (ISA), which has been administering activities in the Area since 1994, looks forward to working holistically to protect and sustainable use the areas beyond national jurisdiction from the surface to the hadal depths for ours and future generations.
As Secretary-General of the International Seabed Authority, I am dedicated to implementing our exclusive mandate of organizing and controlling activities in the Area while sharing the goal of protecting the marine environment in areas beyond national jurisdiction.
I also champion the opportunity to promote cooperation and collaboration with the BBNJ processes, working in harmony within their respective mandates and embodying the collaborative spirit of both the Convention and the BBNJ Agreement as it comes into force on 17 January 2026.
About ISA
ISA is an autonomous intergovernmental organization mandated by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea to manage the mineral resources of the seabed beyond national jurisdiction for the shared benefit of humankind. ISA is committed to ensuring that all economic activities in the deep seabed, including mining, are regulated and responsibly managed using the best available scientific evidence for the benefit of all humankind.
For media inquiries, please contact:
ISA Communications Unit, news@isa.org.jm
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For more information, visit our website, www.isa.org.jm