Workshop for the development of a Regional Environmental Management Plan for the Area of the Northwest Pacific

Call for nomination of experts and submission of scientific information to support workshop objectives

26 October - 6 November 2020

Virtual Workshop

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The International Seabed Authority (ISA), in collaboration with the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries of the Republic of Korea and the Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology, will convene a workshop for the development of a  Regional Environmental Management Plan (REMP) for the Area of the Northwest Pacific from 26 October to 6 November 2020 (weekdays only), via an online meeting platform.

Building on the results of the REMP workshop convened in Qingdao, China, in May 2018, this workshop aims to:

• Review, analyze and synthesize scientific data and information on biogeography; physical, geological and environmental settings; biodiversity, ecosystem features and habitats of the Northwest Pacific seamounts and nodule areas;
• Review current exploration activities within contract areas and distribution of resources (cobalt-rich ferromanganese crusts and polymetallic nodules) in the Northwest Pacific region;
• Describe potential areas that could be impacted by future exploitation of mineral resources in the Area and would require enhanced management measures and precautions, and
• Discuss a framework to address cumulative impacts from future exploitation activities in order to achieve effective protection of the marine environment.

Due to time differences in participant’s locations, it is envisaged that each meeting day will be limited to four hours. A detailed programme and additional meeting documents, including an information note for participants on online meeting logistics, will be available on the workshop webpage in due course

Members of ISA, in particular sponsoring States, as well as contractors and relevant international and regional organizations, projects/programs and initiatives, and relevant academic institutions/scientific groups, are invited to nominate experts to participate in this workshop. All nominations will be reviewed in light of the workshop objectives and selection criteria, as well as the expertise of nominated experts to provide relevant scientific information in support of the objectives of the workshop.

Information on the nomination process, selection criteria and submission of information can be found in the attached document and on the ISA webpage https://bit.ly/327DoFk along with the Terms of Reference. All nominations and scientific information should be submitted via email to oemmr-secretariat@isa.org.jm        
 

Deadline for nomination of experts: 17 August 2020

Deadline for submission of information: 15 September 2020     

For enquiries, please contact: Luciana Genio, Environmental Analyst, Office of Environmental Management and Mineral Resources, ISA (lgenio@isa.org.jm).