Kingston, Jamaica, 19 March 2026 — The Council of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) has concluded Part I of its 31st session, held in Kingston, Jamaica, following nine days of intensive negotiations on key elements of the draft regulations governing the exploitation of mineral resources in the international seabed area. Deliberations reflected a shared commitment among Council members to advance the development of a robust, balanced and implementable regulatory framework for activities in the Area.
Opening the session, outgoing Council President Duncan Muhumuza Laki from Uganda, highlighted progress achieved during the intersessional period following the 30th session and called on members to meet the expectations of the international community by delivering a comprehensive and efficient regulations regime. After opening the session, the Council elected His Excellency Mayank Joshi, High Commissioner and Permanent Representative of India to the ISA, as President for the 31st session.
In her opening remarks, ISA Secretary-General Leticia Carvalho emphasized that the Council has a clear responsibility to deliver rules that are fair, grounded in consensus and capable of ensuring both the effective protection of the marine environment and the sustainable use of deep-seabed resources. She stressed that the framework under negotiation must give full and practical effect to the principle of the common heritage of humankind and underscored that, at a time of growing strain on multilateralism, rules remain the answer.
Several delegations expressed concern about developments outside the ISA framework, including the possibility of unilateral action to authorize seabed mining. In this context, the Secretary-General reiterated that unilateral action runs counter to the principles of international law and to the common heritage of humankind. She stressed that the most effective and credible response is the completion of a clear and enforceable international regulatory framework under United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
Advancing the draft exploitation regulations
Secretary-General Carvalho introduced the Further Revised Consolidated Text of the draft regulations, issued at the request of the Council, together with an indicative list of outstanding issues. Members broadly welcomed this as a useful basis for negotiations.
Working under the thematic approach previously agreed upon, the Council advanced negotiations on the Mining Code through an Indicative Programme of Work proposed by the Secretary-General. This enabled a focused and orderly organization of discussions. With the participation of members of the Authority and observers, the Council engaged in open and constructive debate, achieving significant progress on the draft exploitation regulations.
Governance and regulatory responsibilities
The Council considered and took note of two additional reports from the Secretary-General. The first on 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), which highlighted areas where coordination would be required and where the Authority’s experience, tools and data could be leveraged. The second report examined the election mechanisms for the members of the future Economic Planning Commission, drawing on the evolutionary approach envisaged under UNCLOS.
In addition, the Council approved the extension of six exploration contracts, took note of the report by the Chair of the Legal and Technical Commission on the work of the Commission during Part I and a report by the Commission regarding additional information received from contractors at risk of non-compliance with their contractual obligations.
The Council also considered key institutional and governance elements of the draft framework. One of the most consequential developments was progress toward the establishment of a dedicated Compliance Committee.
Financial regime and benefit-sharing
The Council continued its examination of key elements of the financial regime for activities in the Area. Members also reviewed proposals concerning royalties, profit-sharing arrangements and mechanisms for capturing value from transfers of mining rights. Several delegations emphasized that the financial regime must reflect the principle that the mineral resources of the Area are the common heritage of humankind and that benefits derived from their exploitation should be shared equitably.
Continuing the work
During its final deliberations, the Council considered the way forward for the second part of the session, including the development of standards and guidelines. At the conclusion of the 31st session, the Council underscored the importance of strengthening intersessional work from March to July 2026, encouraging continued engagement by delegations, facilitators and stakeholders to build on the progress achieved and maintain momentum towards the adoption of the exploitation regulations.
Additionally, during the final day of Council meetings, the President suggested, and the Council endorsed, a proposal for the Secretariat to prepare a revision of the Further Revised Consolidated Text ahead of the meeting in July, including joint proposals from the intersessional working groups and the Friends of the President and a revision of the annexes, ensuring that the advancement of the negotiations in March being fully reflected.
The Council is expected to reconvene in July 2026 for the second part of its 31st session, ahead of the Assembly, to continue advancing negotiations on the Mining Code governing activities in the Area.
About ISA
ISA is an autonomous intergovernmental organization mandated by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) to organize and control activities in the Area, particularly with a view to administering the resources of the Area for the benefit of humankind as a whole. ISA is committed to ensuring that all activities in the deep seabed, including any future exploitation of mineral resources, are regulated in accordance with international law and based on the best available scientific evidence, while ensuring the effective protection of the marine environment.
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ISA Communications Unit, news@isa.org.jm
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