Seven Law of the Sea Experts Appointed to Advisory Panel
in Support of the International Seabed Authority Endowment Fund 

10 April 2008

KINGSTON, JAMAICA — The International Seabed Authority (ISA) today announced the appointment of the first seven members of the Advisory Panel for its Endowment Fund for Collaborative Marine Scientific Research.

“I am pleased that the members of our Advisory Panel represent such a diverse group of law of the sea experts,” said Mr. Satya Nandan, Secretary-General of the Authority. “Scientists applying to participate in deep-sea research activities through the Endowment Fund will be well served by this Panel.”

The ISA Endowment Fund was set up to encourage collaborative marine scientific research on the ocean floor beyond the limits of national jurisdiction. The Fund aims to fulfill this mandate: by supporting the participation of qualified scientists and technical personnel from developing countries in research programmes and activities; and by providing these scientists with opportunities to participate in collaborative research initiatives.

Awards from the Fund will be made by the Secretary-General of the International Seabed Authority on the basis of recommendations by the Advisory Panel following their evaluation of all incoming applications. It is expected that two-three application deadlines per year will be established as scientific research opportunities are finalized.

Members of the Advisory Panel appointed today include:

His Excellency Mr. Alfredo Garcia Castelblanco, Permanent Representative of Chile to the ISA and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Chile to Jamaica.
His Excellency Mr. Chen Jinghua, Permanent Representative of the People’s Republic of China to the ISA and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People's Republic of China to Jamaica.
His Excellency Mr. Francis Hurtut, Permanent Representative of the French Republic to the ISA and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the French Republic to Jamaica and Bahamas.
Mr. Coy Roache, Deputy Permanent Representative of Jamaica to the ISA.
Dr. Elva G. Escobar, Head of the Academic Unit in Coastal and Oceanographic System at Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico and affiliate research professor at Texas A&M University, as well as a member of the ISA’s Legal and Technical Commission.
Dr. Craig Smith, a member of the faculty at the Department of Oceanography at the University of Hawaii in Manoa who has worked extensively with the ISA to predict and manage the environmental impacts of nodule mining in the abyssal Pacific.
Dr. Lindsay M. Parson, a marine geophysicist at the National Oceanography Centre in Southampton, United Kingdom and head of the technical team that advises the Government of the UK on extending offshore economic territories.
Mr. Kaiser de Souza, Chief of the Division of Marine Geology, Geological Survey of Brazil, Ministry of Mines and Energy

Full biographical details of these Panel members, as well as additional information on the ISA Endowment Fund, may be found at www.isa.org.jm/efund.

MEDIA ARE ADVISED that the International Seabed Authority will hold a round table event on its Endowment Fund at the United Nations headquarters in New York on 30 April 2008.

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 For more information, contact:

Shannon Sheil, Media Relations Consultant                Michael W Lodge, Legal Consultant
International Seabed Authority                                       International Seabed Authority
+1 613 761 3227                                                               + 1 876 967 2200

14-20 Port Royal Street, Kingston, Jamaica ● Phone: 876/922 9105