Kingston, Jamaica (23 September 2026) – On the 7 and 8 of October 2026, the International Seabed Authority will host a webinar on the report of the Intersessional Expert Group (IEG) on the development of environmental threshold values for activities in the Area.
The online event will provide stakeholders with the opportunity to learn about the report and its key findings, while clarifying the scope and methodology of the proposed framework for threshold development. They will also receive guidance on how to prepare and submit their comments, allowing constructive participation in the consultation process.
The report represents the outcome of a multi-year expert process led by the ISA Legal and Technical Commission (LTC) and addresses threshold development for four key pressure areas: toxicity, turbidity and settling of resuspended sediments, underwater noise and light pollution.
The report has been released for formal stakeholder consultation on 3 August 2026, for a period of 90 days, prior to consideration by the LTC and submission of recommendations to the Council, in accordance with Council decision ISBA/27/C/42.
Member States of the ISA, as well as Observers, Contractors, Intergovernmental Organizations, NGOs, Scientific and Academic Institutions, regulators, policymakers, scientists, technical experts, and the general public are invited to register online to attend the webinar. Click here to register by 5 October 2026, the latest.
Short, focused presentations will be followed by a moderated question‑and‑answer session. To learn more about the webinars’ objectives and expected outcomes, check out the Concept Note here.
About ISA
The International Seabed Authority is an autonomous intergovernmental organization established under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea to organize, regulate and control activities in the seabed beyond national jurisdiction for the benefit of humankind as a whole. ISA is committed to ensuring that all activities in the deep seabed are carried out responsibly, using the best available scientific evidence and in accordance with the principle of the common heritage of humankind.
For media inquiries, please contact:
ISA Communications Unit, news@isa.org.jm