New York, USA, 25 March 2026 – Madam Secretary-General of the International Seabed Authority (ISA), Leticia Carvalho, delivered her remarks at the Preparatory Commission for the Entry into Force of the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement). The meetings are taking place from 23 March until 2 April 2026 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City.
According to Madam Secretary-General Carvalho, the BBNJ Agreement, which entered into force on 17 January 2026, will “enable a more holistic governance structure in marine areas beyond national jurisdiction” and marks a “milestone in strengthening a rules-based system in global ocean governance.”
Recognizing that multilateralism is under pressure, Madam Secretary-General Carvalho, reinforced that the governance of these areas must be “anchored in law, cooperation and institutional coherence.”
She highlighted that while some activities controlled by the ISA in the Area have implications across key areas for BBNJ, including the protection of the marine environment through the establishment of Area-Based Management Tools and Environmental Impact Assessments, there are also elements representing potential synergies between them.
Madam Secretary-General Carvalho emphasized that it is possible to “strengthen coherence, avoid duplication and advance common objectives” and highlighted several existing ISA activities that are “directly relevant.”
These include protection of the marine environment through the establishment of Area-Based Management Tools and Environmental Impact Assessments; the ISA DeepData database, containing critical information on deep-sea environments; capacity-building initiatives, including the Contractors’ Training Programme for personnel from developing States; and the implementation of Regional Environmental Management Plans (REMPs). Currently, an estimated two million square kilometers are protected from future mining activities in the Clarion Clipperton Zone as an Area of Particular Environmental Interest.
Madam Secretary-General Carvalho also referred to the recently concluded Part I of the 31st Session of the ISA Council, where delegations engaged in discussions on the potential implications and opportunities of ISA´s work and the operation of the BBNJ Agreement.
In conclusion, Madam Secretary General Carvalho has expressed the Authority’s readiness to join hands with the BBNJ Agreement to overcome gaps and consolidate ocean governance.
Read her full statement: https://isa.org.jm/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/MSGs-statement-for-BBNJ-PrepCom-FINAL.pdf
About ISA
The International Seabed Authority 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.
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