Call for action for ensuring the stewardship of the Area and its resources for the benefit of all humanity through deep-sea science, technology and innovation

In accordance with UNCLOS and the 1994 Agreement pertaining to the implementation of Part XI of UNCLOS, ISA is mandated to regulate and control activities in the Area, and to take measures necessary for the effective protection of the marine environment from potential harmful effects that may arise from seabed activities. ISA is also required to promote the conduct of marine scientific research in the Area and to coordinate and disseminate the results, when available.

The ISA commitment for promoting marine scientific research is well reflected in its strategic framework, especially its Action Plan in support of the United Nations Decade for Ocean Science for Sustainable Development which was adopted unanimously in 2020 by all the ISA Members and which has since served as a global deep-sea research agenda to advance general knowledge and understanding of the deep-sea and its ecosystems. Through its six strategic research priorities, the Action Plan provides a building block for advancing global deep-sea research efforts in support of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The central role of deep-sea research under the auspices of ISA as well as its contribution to the progress made towards the implementation of the goals and targets of the 2030 Agenda have been assessed by an independent report commissioned by the Secretary-General that was released in November 2021. The report underscored the pivotal role of science in the effective implementation of UNCLOS and the 1994 Agreement, as a fundamental pillar of the sustainable management of global commons and as a cornerstone of a strong multilateralism to achieve inclusive, balanced and equitable sustainable ocean management for all.

In the margins of the 2023 Sustainable Development Goals Summit held in New York, ISA together with Bangladesh and Argentina launched a global Call to action for ensuring the stewardship of the Area and its resources for the benefit of all humanity through deep-sea science, technology and innovation.

The Call for Action aims to further collective action around four key priorities:

  1. increasing investments in science and technology;
  2. aligning relevant research agendas with the global deep-sea research agenda;
  3. promoting deep-sea literacy; and
  4. leveraging ISA’s experiences to support the implementation of the Agreement on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction (2023 Agreement).

Since then, the initiative has received significant support by Member States and has also been recently open to signature by ISA stakeholders.

Signatories – Member States

Argentina

Mr. Santiago Cafiero

Minister of Foreign Affairs,

International Trade and Worship

Cook Islands

Honorable Mr. Mark Brown

Prime Minister

India

H.E. Mr. Mayank Joshi

Permanent Representative of India to the International Seabed Authority

Mauritius

The Honourable Maneesh Gobin

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade

Singapore

H.E. Dr. Vivian Balakrishnan

Minster of Foreign Affairs

United Kingdom

The Right Honorable Lord Benyon

FCDO Minister of State for Climate, Environment and Energy 

Bangladesh

H.E. Dr. A.K. Abdul Momen, MP

Minster of Foreign Affairs

Fiji

Hon. Filimoni Vosarogo

Minister of Lands & Mineral Resources

Jamaica

Honourable Senator Kamina Johnson Smith

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Jamaica

Nauru

H.E. Mr. Russ Joseph KUN

President

Togo

Mr. Koffi Akakpo

Charge d’Affaires a.i.

Permanent Mission of Togo to the United Nations in New York

China

Ambassador Daojiang Chen

Permanent Representative of the People’s Republic of China to ISA

Ghana

Hon. Min. Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration

Malta

H.E. Mr. Ian Borg

Minister of Foreign Affairs

Norway

Hon. Min. Anniken Huitfeldt

Minister of Foreign Affairs

Tonga

The Honorable Mrs. Fekita ‘Utoikamanu

Minister of Foreign Affairs

Signatories – Scientific institutions

Kobe Ocean-Bottom Exploration Center

Prof. Hiroko Sugioka

Director

National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries, Egypt

Prof. Amr Hamouda

President

National Oceanography Centre

Dr. John Siddorn 

Chief Executive

Signatories – Contractors

Blue Minerals Jamaica

Mr. R. N. Heerema

Director

Loke CCZ

Mr. Walter Sognnes

Executive Director

Tonga Offshore Mining Limited

Mr. Gerard Barron

Chief Executive Officer

Interoceanmetal Joint Organization

Dr. Tomasz Abramowski

Director-General

Nauru Ocean Resources Inc.

Mr. Gerard Barron

Chief Executive Officer

Global Sea Mineral Resources NV

Dr. Kris Van Nijen

Managing Director

Ocean Mineral Singapore Pte Ltd.

Mr. Francois van Raemdonck

Director