The Secretary-General of the International Seabed Authority, Leticia Carvalho, was invited to open the 218th Session of Brazil’s Interministerial Commission for Marine Resources (CIRM) on 3 June 2026.
CIRM is an advisory body under Brazil’s Ministry of Defense. It is responsible for coordinating actions related to Brazil’s National Policy for Marine Resources, as well as the Sectoral Plan for Marine Resources (PSRM), the National Coastal Management Plan (PNGC), and the Continental Shelf Survey Plan (LEPLAC). CIRM also oversees the implementation of the Brazilian Antarctic Programme.
The Commission is coordinated by the Commander of the Brazilian Navy and includes representatives from several Brazilian ministries and government institutions.
During the online meeting, Madam Secretary-General presented an overview of her recent visits to Rio de Janeiro and Brasília, highlighting the outcomes of her participation in the IX Ministerial Meeting of the Zone of Peace and Cooperation of the South Atlantic (ZOPACAS) in April 2026, as well as her official mission to Brasília in May 2026, during which she held a series of high-level meetings with Brazilian authorities.
Leticia Carvalho also reflected on Brazil’s historical connection to ocean governance and the principle of the Common Heritage of Humankind. She explained how Brazil can contribute to the governance of the Area and how the International Seabed Authority can support Brazil’s engagement in this process.
Read her remarks in English and Portuguese.