News

On 18 November 2021, the Legal and Technical Commission of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) confirmed the selection of candidates for ten online training opportunities provided by China Ocean Mineral Resources R & D Association (COMRA) in accordance with its obligations under its exploration contract for polymetallic nodules with ISA.

The selected candidates are:

The International Seabed Authority (ISA) is seeking a legal consultant to identify, prepare, review and revise the phase two standards and guidelines for activities in the international seabed area (the Area) and provide advice for the finalization of the Draft Regulations on Exploitation of Mineral Resources in the Area.

The Permanent Representative of France to the International Seabed Authority (ISA), H.E. Mr. Olivier Guyonvarch, presented his credentials to ISA Secretary-General, H.E. Mr. Michael W. Lodge, during a ceremony held on 19 November 2021 at ISA headquarters in Kingston, Jamaica.

H.E. Guyonvarch is the Ambassador of France to Jamaica. He has a master’s degree in Chinese and is a career diplomat specializing in the law of the sea. Ambassador Guyonvarch has been with the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs since 1996.

The deadline to apply for one at-sea (engineering) training opportunity provided by Nauru Ocean Resources Inc. (NORI) for candidates from developing States Members of ISA has been extended to 31 January 2022.

The placement is being offered in accordance with NORI’s obligations under its contracts with ISA for exploration of polymetallic nodules. Following the extended application deadline of 27 September 2021, only one placement was filled while the other was recommended for re-advertisement by the Legal and Technical Commission.

International Seabed Authority (ISA) launched three new studies describing opportunities offered by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) to the least developed countries (LDCs), landlocked developing countries (LLDCs) and small island developing States (SIDS). The three publications were produced by ISA Secretariat in response to priority capacity-building needs identified by LDCs, LLDCs and SIDS in 2020. The launch of these three publications took place virtually on 16 November 2021.

The Permanent Representative of Panama to the International Seabed Authority (ISA), H.E. Mr. Lasford Emilio Douglas, and the Permanent Representative of Chile to ISA, H.E. Ms. Constanza Figueroa, presented credentials to ISA Secretary-General, H.E. Mr. Michael W. Lodge, during ceremonies held on 17 November 2021 at ISA headquarters in Kingston, Jamaica.

On 10 November 2021, the Legal and Technical Commission of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) confirmed the selection of one candidate to benefit from a Master’s degree provided by Nauru Resources Inc. (NORI) in accordance with its obligations under its exploration contract for polymetallic nodules with ISA.

This training opportunity is a direct contribution of NORI to the ISA’s “Women in Deep-Sea Research” (WIDSR) Project₁ as the contractor has committed to allocate at least half of the training placements to women candidates. 

On 5 November 2021, the Legal and Technical Commission of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) confirmed the selection of candidates for two (2) undergraduate degrees provided by Marawa Research and Exploration Ltd. in accordance with its obligations under its exploration contract for polymetallic nodules with ISA.

This training opportunity is a direct contribution of MARAWA to the ISA’s “Women in Deep-Sea Research” (WIDSR) Project₁ as the contractor has committed to allocate at least half of the training placements to women candidates. 

The deadline to apply for seven training opportunities provided by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE) of the Russian Federation for candidates from developing States Members of ISA has been extended to 3 January 2022 instead of 25 August 2021.

The placements are being offered in accordance with MNRE’s obligations under its contracts with ISA for exploration of polymetallic sulphides (PMS, 2 placements) and cobalt-rich ferromanganese crusts (CFC, 5 placements).

Yesterday, the International Seabed Authority (ISA) successfully concluded an Expert Scoping Meeting on Advancing Technology to Support the Sustainable Mining of Mineral Resources in the Area organized in collaboration with the UK National Oceanography Centre (NOC). The meeting took place virtually between 2 and 4 November 2021 and involved 120 participants from 41 countries, including representatives from research institutions, contractors, relevant industries and United Nations and other international organizations. Former ISA trainees with relevant expertise were also in attendance.

The International Seabed Authority (ISA) is pleased to invite expression of interest to participate in the Conference on Women in the Law of the Sea being organized by the Secretariat in March-June 2022 (dates to be confirmed). The call to participate is open until 11 February 2022.

The Secretariat of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) shared on Thursday 14 October with all its Members and Observers the indicative programme of work and the information note on matters for consideration by the ISA Assembly during the in-person meetings of the 26^th session scheduled on 13-15 December 2021.

15 October 2021 – Kingston, Jamaica and Jakarta, Indonesia. The International Seabed Authority (ISA) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia successfully held a virtual national capacity building workshop to review the environmental components of the legal framework governing activities carried out in the Area.

Today, the International Seabed Authority (ISA) successfully concluded a three-day online workshop on Enhancing Image-based Biodiversity Assessments to Advance Deep-Sea Taxonomy. The workshop, which was organized with the support of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries of Korea and the National Marine Biodiversity Institute of Korea, involved over 120 participants from 41 countries.

The International Seabed Authority (ISA) is inviting proposals for a consultancy to prepare a standard and/or guidelines for electronic monitoring systems for activities in the international seabed area (the Area).