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.”.
Madam Secretary-General reflects on her recent mission to Brazil in May 2026
Brasília and Rio de Janeiro (4 – 8 May 2026) – “It was with a feeling of returning home and reconnecting with my roots that I travelled in early May to Brazil´s capital, Brasília, for a week filled with high-level meetings and faces new and familiar.
Madam Secretary-General, Leticia Carvalho, Welcomed by The Honorable Prime Minister of the Republic of Fiji, Sitiveni Rabuka in a Traditional Ceremony in Suva, Fiji
Suva, Fiji – 18 May 2026 – Madam Secretary-General of the International Seabed Authority (ISA), Ms. Leticia Carvalho, was welcomed by the The Honorable Prime Minister of the Republic of Fiji, Sitiveni Rabuka, in a traditional and official ceremony held in Suva, Fiji, on Monday morning, 18 May 2026.
Ask an Expert: How to Advance Marine Scientific Research in the Deep Sea for Stewardship and Effective Ocean Governance? An interview with José Dallo, Director of the Office of Stewardship, Environment, and Resources, International Seabed Authority
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.
Madam Secretary-General’s Reflections at the IX Ministerial Meeting of the Zone of Peace and Cooperation of the South Atlantic (ZOPACAS) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (8-9 April 2026) – At the beginning of April, following a very busy last few weeks hosting Part I of the 31st Council Session, I travelled to Rio de Janeiro to represent the International Seabed Authority (ISA) at the Ninth Ministerial Meeting of the Zone of Peace and Cooperation of the South Atlantic, known as ZOPACAS. As a Brazilian, there was something especially meaningful about participating in a gathering dedicated to the future of the South Atlantic and its respective 24 States from across Africa and Latin America. The South Atlantic is of strategic importance geopolitically, serving as a critical shipping alternative to the Red Sea and a major trade artery between the Americas, Europe and Asia. It is also a space in which developing coastal States have a strong stake in the evolution of multilateral ocean governance.
Small Island Developing States and the Future of Seabed Governance
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.
Discovering Life in the Hadal Depths: How Taxonomy Illuminates the Deep Seabed
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.
Madam Secretary-General’s Reflections from Her Mission to Belgium, February 2026
Kingston, Jamaica, 31 March, 2026 – Following my trip to the United Kingdom and Switzerland, I traveled to Brussels, Belgium where I had the opportunity to meet a number of stakeholders to increase understanding of the work and role of the ISA and hear from them regarding concerns and opportunities.
The Council of the International Seabed Authority advanced negotiations on the Mining Code
Kingston, Jamaica, 19 March 2026 — The Council of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) has concluded Part I of its 31st Session, held in Kingston, Jamaica, following nine days of intensive negotiations on key elements of the Draft Regulations governing the exploitation of mineral resources in the international seabed Area.
