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Deep seabed mining has the potential to accelerate progress towards achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development by increasing scientific knowledge of the deep ocean whilst at the same time providing opportunities for economic growth on the basis of fairness and equity , highlighted Mr. Michael W. Lodge, Secretary-General of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) at the High-Level UN Global Compact meeting held in Oslo, Norway, last week.

The 2019 edition of World Oceans Day 2019 (WOD) was launched in Kingston, Jamaica, on 7 June with the International Seabed Authority (ISA) Open Day, held in partnership with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade (MFAFT) of Jamaica and the Caribbean Maritime University (CMU).

High-level representatives from African States, international organizations and experts on law of the sea, policy, mining, environment protection and geology convened at a regional workshop from 16 to 18 May, organized in Pretoria by the International Seabed Authority (ISA), in partnership with the Government of the Republic of South Africa and the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad).

Mr. Michael W. Lodge, Secretary General of ISA and Mr. Vladimir Ryabinin, Executive Secretary of IOC-UNESCO

There has never been a time of greater promise or greater challenge for the future of our oceans. This is the topic on everyone’s minds as the international community gathers in Copenhagen this week for the first Global Planning Meeting for the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030).

To mark the 25th Anniversary of the International Seabed Authority (ISA), the Government of the People’s Republic of China pledged extraordinary support to the programmes and initiatives of ISA that encourage increased participation of developing States, including in marine scientific research activities, and promote the sustainable development of mineral resources in the international deep seabed area.

The Secretary-General of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) has released a first draft of the High-Level Action Plan for the International Seabed Authority for the 2019-2023 period as well as draft Key Performance Indicators for public consultation on Friday 3 May 2019.

To facilitate submissions and comments, a list of general and specific questions has been prepared as a guide and can be accessed via the website: https://www.isa.org.jm/strategic-plan

High Level Workshop: 16 -18 May 2019 - Pretoria, South Africa

What are the potential benefits for African States in increasing their participation in deep-seabed exploration activities? Why is it important for African experts to contribute to the development of key legal instruments and measures such as draft regulations for deep seabed mining and the establishment of marine protected areas in the international seabed area?

The Republic of the Union of Myanmar offered a contribution to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) at a ceremony led by Ambassador Hau Do Suan, Permanent Representative of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar to the United Nations in New York, on 3 April.

Deep CCZ biodiversity synthesis workshop; 1-4 October 2019, Friday Harbor, Washington, USA

The International Seabed Authority (ISA) will hold a workshop on the ‘Development of Standards and Guidelines for the mining code’ in partnership with the Governments of the Republic of South Africa and the United Kingdom at the OR Tambo Conference Centre in Pretoria from 13 to 17 May 2019.

The International Seabed Authority (ISA) will hold a second workshop in the context of the Africa’s Deep-Seabed Resources (ADSR) project, in partnership with the Government of the Republic of South Africa at the Department of International Relations and Cooperation, in Pretoria from 16 to 18 May 2019.

Today marks a major step forward towards the delivery of a comprehensive legal regime for deep-seabed mining beyond national jurisdiction with the release of draft regulations on exploitation of the mineral resources in the international seabed area by the Legal and Technical Commission, a 30-member expert advisory body of the International Seabed Authority (ISA).

UN Permanent Representatives, senior officials as well as many legal and scientific experts attending the Second Session of the Intergovernmental Conference for the conservation and sustainable development of marine diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) in New York this week attended a side-event on Tuesday 26 March dedicated to acknowledging the 25 years of existence of the International Seabed Authority (ISA).

 The first part of the 25th Session of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) began with the Council meeting, held from 25 February - 1 March 2019 in Kingston, Jamaica. It will be followed by a meeting of the Legal and Technical Commission (LTC) from 4-15 March 2019.

The Council addressed the draft exploitation regulations on deep-seabed mining, and deliberated on:

On Thursday, the Council of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) focused on issues related to the Enterprise, an organ foreseen in United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) as ISA’s own mining arm. Delegates discussed the operationalization of the Enterprise, a joint venture proposal with the Government of Poland, and a draft decision on the terms of reference for the Special Representative for the Enterprise.

Highlights of the day include: