The Council of the ISA, at its final meeting of the 19th Session, this morning recommended the adoption by the Assembly of a draft decision to institute a fixed overhead charge of $47,000 to be payable annually by contractors to cover the administration and supervision of contracts and review of their annual reports by the Authority.

In the wake of renewed interest in potential commercial exploitation for deep seabed minerals, the Council of the International Seabed Authority reviewed a summary Secretariat note from a technical report that provided a framework for polymetallic nodule exploitation in the Area.

A new and significant development in the work of the International Seabed Authority was reached in Kingston this morning when the Authority’s Council decided to approve the plans of work for exploration of cobalt-rich ferromanganese crusts submitted by two corporations sponsored by China and Japan.

The ISA Council today continues discussions on the LTC Report presented by its Chairman, Dr. Russell Howorth.

During its meeting held 8-12 July in Kingston, the Commission has selected 8 candidates for its Contractor Training Programmes.

The International Seabed Authority began its nineteenth session today with the election of its president and the adoption of an extensive agenda which includes consideration and approval of revised regulations on prospecting and exploration for polymetallic nodules.

New applications for exploration licences,  development of an appropriate exploitation regime and challenges posed by effective management of contracts for exploration in the Area are among issues to be dealt with at this year’s ISA 19th Session in Kingston from July 15-26.

The recent June 2013 taxonomic workshop in Wilhelmshaven, Germany identified various potentials for tackling the taxonomic gap and improving the biodiversity knowledgebase of the Clarion-Clipperton Zone (CCZ).

ISA Technical Study 12: Implementation of Article 82 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea is now available online.
 
The Technical Study was prepared by the Secretariat of the International Seabed Authority to provide a summary of the International Workshop on Further Consideration of the Implementation of Article 82 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (the Convention), which was held in Beijing, China, from 26 to 30 November 2012 (Beijing Workshop), in collaboration with the China Institute for Marine Affairs (CIMA).
 
The Bejing Workshop aimed to draw up recommendations for Article 82 implementation guidelines and the outline of a model Article 82 agreement between the ISA and an outer continental shelf (OCS) State for receiving payments and contributions.  The workshop also considered the framework, process and criteria for the equitable distribution by the Authority of payments and contributions. These recommendations are intended to form the basis for further consideration of the issues associated with the implementation of Article 82 by the relevant organs of the Authority in 2013 and beyond.
 
The Technical Study contains opening and welcoming remarks made at the opening session, Working Group reports on implementation guidelines, a model agreement, possible options for equitable distribution of payments and contributions in-kind, and a summary of conclusions and recommendations.
 
Other papers presented at the workshop, and referred to in the workshop programme  were in the form of slide presentations, and are archived on the Authority’s website.