Kingston, Jamaica – 15 August 2025 – On 21 July 2025, the Council of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) concluded the second part of its thirstiest session, advancing its work in the development of regulations governing the exploitation of mineral resources in the Area.
Over the course of the 15-day session, the Council, under the presidency of H.E. Ambassador Duncan Muhumuza Laki from Uganda, resumed its reading of the Revised Consolidated Text, working through Draft Regulation 107 on the exploitation of mineral resources in the Area. During the intersessional period and during the second part of the thirtieth session, seven “Friends of the President” groups were established.
Six informal working group sessions, including meetings of the Friends of the President Group were held on key thematic areas such as the equalization mechanism, the payment system, inspection, compliance and enforcement, submarine cable protection, the Environmental Compensation Fund, and the protection of underwater cultural heritage.
Delegations also engaged in detailed exchanges on environmental impact assessments and statements, environmental management and monitoring, and other outstanding issues. Several delegations volunteered to facilitate intersessional work on specific items and will present joint proposals and progress reports at the next meeting of the Council. Under the leadership of the President, the Council adopted a decision on a thematic approach to the continued elaboration of rules, regulations and procedures relating to exploitation (ISBA/30/C/18), aimed at resolving the remaining key outstanding matters.
To support further progress, delegations were invited to submit comments by 15 September 2025, while inputs from the informal working groups and Friends of the President were requested by 1 December 2025. The Council also requested the Secretariat to prepare a further Revised Consolidated Text, reflecting all discussions held during the thirtieth session, and make it available ahead of the first meeting of the thirty -first session.
In addition, the Council considered the Report of the Interim Director-General of the Enterprise, the Report of the Chair of the Legal and Technical Commission, and the Report of the Chair of the Finance Committee. On 18 July 2025, the Council adopted a decision on the operationalization of the Economic Planning Commission (ISBA/30/C/17) tasking the Finance Committee to assess the related financial implications and submit its report during the second-part of the thirty-first session, in 2026.
Concluding the Council, Ambassador Laki encouraged delegates to maintain the momentum during the intersessional period and work selflessly to fulfill our legal obligation by equipping the International Seabed Authority with the tools to carry out its mandate. Only then can we hope to draw benefits from the Common Heritage of Humankind.
The full statement of the President of the Council for the second part of the thirstiest session is available here.
About ISA
ISA is an autonomous intergovernmental organization mandated by the UNCLOS to manage the mineral resources of the seabed beyond national jurisdiction for the shared benefit of humankind. ISA is committed to ensuring that all economic activities in the deep seabed, including mining, are regulated and responsibly managed using the best available scientific evidence for the benefit of all humankind.
For media inquiries, please contact:
ISA Communications Unit, news@isa.org.jm
—————
For more information, visit our website, www.isa.org.jm