Kingston, Jamaica – 24 April 2026 – Every year on 25 April, the international community marks the International Day for Small Island Developing States (SIDS). The date commemorates the opening of the 1994 Barbados Global Conference, the first major United Nations conference dedicated to implementing Agenda 21, the sustainable development of SIDS. In the last 30 years, SIDS have moved from the margins to centrality in relation to international ocean governance. As stewards of nearly a third of the world’s ocean, their voice in decisions about how the deep sea is managed and who benefits from its resources must be fully integrated and visible. The Day highlights the unique environmental, social and economic challenges faced by these States while recognizing their leadership in ocean stewardship and climate action.
SIDS are a distinct group of 39 nations and 18 associate members, located in the Caribbean, Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans, recognized by the United Nations as facing specific sustainable development challenges. Despite their relatively small land areas, many of these States have vast Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ); in this sense they are not Small Island States, but rather, big Ocean States. According to the UN Office of the High Representative for LDCs, LLDCs and SIDS (UN-OHRLLS), the EEZ of a typical SIDS is on average 28 times the size of its landmass. Collectively, SIDS control approximately 30 per cent of the world’s oceans and seas, despite occupying less than 1 per cent of global land area.
Given their unique, and often remote, geographical locations, SIDS often face structural constraints including limited resources, heightened exposure to the impacts of climate change, accelerated biodiversity loss, and economic vulnerabilities linked to small and often highly specialized economies. In 2024, following the 4th International Conference on Small Island Developing States, the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for Small Island Developing States was adopted which developed a 10-year programme of action across six priority areas to support the resilient prosperity of SIDS. Many are reliant upon fisheries and ocean-related activities that demand strong ocean governance. The Agenda calls for building the capacity of SIDS to understand their rights, obligations and responsibilities under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which directly reflects the access and capacity gaps, such as the need to strengthen the collection of data to improve national data infrastructure systems. The Agenda also calls for innovative financing to drive sustainable ocean-based economies, and for SIDS to be supported in implementing area-based management tools, including marine protected areas and marine spatial planning.
In observance of the International Day for SIDS, the International Seabed Authority (ISA) celebrates the unique role SIDS play in deep-sea governance through the importance of strengthening capacity of SIDSs in ISA contracts management, and how improved data and oversight can support their sustainable ocean economies.
SIDS are active participants in developing and shaping the global legal frameworks on ocean governance.
The adoption of UNCLOS established the comprehensive legal framework governing ocean space, resources, and activities, and created the ISA to organize and control activities related to mineral resources in the international seabed area (“the Area”) for the benefit of humankind. Adopting UNCLOS served as a significant moment for Jamaica, which now serves as a headquarters to ISA, and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).
SIDS long-standing engagement during the UNCLOS negotiations helped ensure that the convention was informed by and recognized the special circumstances of island countries to create mechanisms that promote their equitable participation in ocean governance established under the “common heritage of humankind” principle (Article 136). For example, SIDS’ contributions during the Third UN Conference on the Law of the Sea (1973–1982) were directly responsible for key provisions that benefited island nations, including Part IV of UNCLOS establishing the concept of the “archipelagic State,” which placed additional maritime areas under island sovereignty, and Part V on the EEZ, a maritime zone extending up to 200 nautical miles from a state’s coastline, where it has sovereign rights to explore, exploit, conserve, and manage natural resources in the water and seabed.
Today, SIDS continue to play an important role in the work of the ISA and in shaping the regulatory framework for activities in the Area. SIDS represent more than 20 per cent of ISA’s membership, and all United Nations Member States classified as SIDS are parties to UNCLOS. Through their participation in ISA’s Assembly, Council and subsidiary bodies, SIDS contribute to shaping policies that promote the equitable and sustainable use of seabed resources. Their perspectives are rooted in their close relationship with the ocean and their interest in ensuring that any activities are conducted responsibly.
Seven SIDS currently act as Sponsoring States for ISA contractors: Cook Islands, Kiribati, Nauru, Tonga, Jamaica, Cuba and Singapore. Together, these seven SIDS have either been allocated or sponsored activities in reserved areas totaling approximately 504,666 km² of the Area, which is a concrete example of SIDS participation and level of activity in the Area’s governance. At the thirtieth session of the ISA Assembly, 15 SIDS participated as Member State delegations, reflecting the strong engagement of island countries and the ISA’s Partnership Fund approved new funding grants specifically to support deep-sea research, capacity development, and training opportunities in Africa, the Caribbean and the Indian Ocean, which directly benefit SIDS and their role in shaping the governance of activities in the Area. ISA is continuing the work to finalize the regulatory framework on deep seabed exploitation “the Mining Code” with SIDS voices central to debates on environmental protection, equitable benefit-sharing and liability.
For most SIDS, the principles of sustainability, environmental protection and equitable benefit-sharing are not abstract concepts but essential considerations for their long-term development. Their engagement helps ensure that the emerging regulatory framework reflects these priorities and upholds the principle that the resources of the Area are the common heritage of humankind.
Sponsoring States, particularly those from SIDS, play a central role in the governance of activities in the Area, by overseeing ISA contracts.
Under UNCLOS, and clarified in a landmark 2011 Advisory Opinion by the Seabed Disputes Chamber of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS), Sponsoring States have the responsibility to ensure that any Contractor they sponsor complies with the applicable rules, regulations and procedures, as well as with the terms of their contracts with ISA.
For SIDS acting as Sponsoring States, this responsibility highlights the importance of establishing strong national legal and regulatory frameworks. Effective oversight requires clear legislation, institutional capacity and coordination between government agencies responsible for environmental protection, maritime governance and economic planning.
Strengthening capacity in contracts management and oversight is critical. It enables SIDS to assess Contractor performance, monitor compliance and ensure that exploration or future exploitation activities align both environmental safeguards and national development priorities.
Ultimately, strong regulatory oversight helps ensure that any economic benefits derived from seabed resources are realized in a transparent and sustainable manner.
Access to reliable data is critical for SIDS to participate meaningfully in discussions on environmental management and contract oversight with respect to seabed activities.
Data is fundamental for the effective governance of seabed activities. Scientific, environmental and operational data allow both ISA and Sponsoring States to monitor Contractor performance, assess environmental impacts and make informed policy decisions.
For SIDS, access to reliable data is especially important because it strengthens their ability to participate meaningfully in technical discussions and negotiations. When States have access to robust scientific information and the ability to share knowledge, such as ISA’s DeepData platform, they are better positioned to evaluate environmental risks, assess economic opportunities and advocate for policies that reflect their interests.
Comprehensive data systems also support long-term planning. They enable governments to evaluate how seabed resources might contribute to national development strategies while ensuring that environmental considerations remain central to decision-making. Approximately 21 per cent of the ocean floor has been mapped globally through the AREA 2030 initiative. Greater investments in advanced technologies, data processing, and machine learning techniques are vital for island nations to better assess how potential seabed activities could impact their EEZs or adjacent ecosystems.
In this sense, data serves as a governance tool that supports transparency, accountability and informed participation.
The ocean is the foundation of identity, culture and governance.
For many coastal communities, the ocean is part of everyday life. It shapes culture, livelihoods and identity. Many communities in SIDS have traditions and knowledge systems that reflect a long-standing relationship with marine ecosystems. The SAMOA “SIDS Accelerated Modalities of Action” Pathway, a 2014 UN-adopted action plan which outlines sustainable development strategies for SIDS, recognizes the need to protect indigenous bio-cultural heritage, which interlinks traditional knowledge, biodiversity, culture and landscapes, to support the sustainable development of SIDS. Eight of UNESCO’s 50 marine World Heritage Sites are found in SIDS territories, underscoring the ecological and cultural significance of these ocean environments.
This perspective naturally influences how many people from SIDS approach ocean governance. There is an increased awareness that the ocean must be managed responsibly because the well-being of communities is directly connected to the health of marine environments.
At the same time, SIDS are seeking pathways for sustainable economic development. Here, the challenge is to ensure that potential benefits from ocean resources are pursued in a way that respects environmental limits and supports long-term resilience.
Balancing these considerations is not always simple, but it is pivotal to responsible ocean governance.
Looking ahead, success for SIDS means that they are fully equipped to participate in all aspects of seabed governance from negotiations and regulatory development to monitoring and decision-making.
Greater institutional capacity would allow Sponsoring States to effectively oversee Contractors’ activities and ensure compliance with environmental and operational standards. Improved access to data and technology would enable them to engage more confidently in scientific and technical discussions.
Equally important are strong partnerships. Constructive relationships between Sponsoring States, Contractors and international institutions can help ensure that activities are conducted responsibly and transparently.
Ultimately, success would mean that SIDS are able to translate their participation in seabed governance into meaningful outcomes including having stronger negotiating positions, equitable benefit-sharing and resilient ocean-based economies.
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