Nice, France – 12 June 2025, The International Seabed Authority (ISA) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) have signed a landmark memorandum of understanding (MoU) to enhance cooperation on matters related to deep-sea fisheries, biodiversity and the sustainable management of areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ). The signing took place on the sidelines of the Third United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice, France.
The MoU formalizes the collaboration between ISA and FAO in promoting the conservation and sustainable use of marine resources in the deep sea, particularly in ABNJ. It underscores the shared commitment of both organizations to strengthen coordination on policy measures, exchange knowledge and data, support scientific research and advance capacity-building efforts in line with their respective mandates.
With this MoU, the ISA and the FAO mutually consent to encourage and develop collaborative activities, where appropriate and practical. This includes sharing and managing information and non-confidential data related to deep-sea biodiversity, developing scientific approaches for the sustainable management of activities, developing coherent and transparent management approaches in ABNJ and promoting capacity-building related to the management of ABNJ, increasing and developing general knowledge and awareness of the deep sea and promoting gender equality in deep-sea research, particularly in developing countries.
Mr. Qu Dongyu, Director-General expressed FAO’s commitment to working with ISA, stating, “We look forward to working together in addressing future challenges and opportunities through strengthened collaboration in advancing knowledge, sustainable management and inclusive approaches.”
Madam Secretary-General of ISA, Ms. Leticia Carvalho, underscored the importance of this new partnership, stating, “This MoU marks a key step in uniting institutions with shared mandates to protect and sustainably use ocean resources. Together, ISA and FAO can strengthen governance, advance science, and support developing States through knowledge-sharing and capacity-building in deep-sea research and fisheries management.”
FAO’s work in this area includes the development of the International Guidelines for the Management of Deep-sea Fisheries in the High Seas (2008), which offer a framework to support the long-term conservation and sustainable use of deep-sea living resources while minimizing adverse impacts on vulnerable marine ecosystems.
This new partnership further strengthens the global commitment to preserving the biodiversity and health of the ocean, particularly in ABNJ, ensuring that their benefits are equitably shared and responsibly managed.
About ISA
ISA is an autonomous intergovernmental organization mandated by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea 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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ISA Communications Unit, news@isa.org.jm