News

Applications are now open for two at-sea training opportunities for candidates from developing States Members of the International Seabed Authority (ISA). The placements are provided by Geosciences and Natural Resources of the Federal Republic of Germany (BGR), in accordance with its obligations under its exploration contract for polymetallic sulphides with ISA.

The International Seabed Authority (ISA) has joined the International Oceanographic Data and Information Exchange (IODE) network of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO as an Associate Data Unit enabling the ISA Secretariat to serve as a node for IODE's Ocean Biodiversity Information System (OBIS).

The President of the Assembly of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) for the 26^th session, Ambassador H.E. Mr. Denys Wibaux from France, and the President of the ISA Council for the 26^th session, Rear Admiral Md. Khurshed Alam from Bangladesh, have announced in a joint letter shared today with all Members of ISA the decision taken in consultation with the Secretary-General to postpone the face-to-face meetings of the 26^th session of the Assembly and the Council to a later date during the year.

Applications are now open for candidates from developing States Members of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) for five training opportunities provided by the Institut Français de Recherche pour l'Exploitation de la Mer (Ifremer) in accordance with its obligations under its contract with ISA for the exploration for polymetallic nodules in the Area.

The selected candidates will be invited to participate in the 16th edition of the Deep-Sea Biology Symposium from 12 to 17 of September 2021 in Brest, France. 

Today, the Permanent Representative of Gabon to the International Seabed Authority (ISA), H.E. Mr. Michel Xavier Biang, presented his credentials to ISA Secretary-General, H.E. Mr. Michael W. Lodge, during a virtual ceremony.

Ambassador Biang has been the Permanent Representative of Gabon to the United Nations since 2017 and was designated Permanent Representative to ISA on 11 February 2021.

Applications are now open for candidates from developing States Members of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) for two at-sea placements with Nauru Ocean Resources Inc. (NORI) in accordance with its obligations under its exploration contract for polymetallic nodules in the Area.

ISA is calling for candidates with at a minimum a bachelor’s degree in engineering from an accredited educational institution and demonstrated interest in marine engineering and the seafloor minerals industry.

The International Seabed Authority (ISA) released today additional standards and guidelines for stakeholder consultation for a period of 60 days, until 7 June 2021 3 July 2021.

The standards and guidelines are designed to complement the draft regulations for the exploitation of mineral resources in the international seabed area (the Area), which are currently being developed by ISA. The standards and guidelines are being produced following a three-phased approach.

Nominations are open for the Third Edition of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) Secretary-General’s Award for Excellence in Deep-Sea Research.

Launched at the ISA Assembly in July 2018, the Award recognizes and encourages the achievements of young researchers from developing countries who have made outstanding contributions to the advancement of scientific knowledge of the deep-sea environment, or to the development of environmentally sustainable regulatory frameworks. This unique initiative is sponsored by Monaco and Tonga Offshore Mining Ltd (TOML).

The Legal and Technical Commission of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) finalized on 30 April 2021 the selection of candidates for two at-sea training opportunities provided by Marawa Research and Exploration Ltd. in accordance with its obligations under its exploration contracts for polymetallic nodules with ISA.

The two selected candidates are:

The International Seabed Authority (ISA) is now receiving applications for three scholarship opportunities provided by Nauru Ocean Resources Inc (NORI) and Marawa Research and Exploration Ltd in accordance with their obligations under their respective exploration contracts for polymetallic nodules with ISA.

All three scholarships are for candidates from developing States Members of ISA to attend the University of the South Pacific at its campus in Fiji, with a starting date of January 2022.

NORI is offering:

Today, the Permanent Representative of the Dominican Republic to the International Seabed Authority (ISA), H.E. Mr. Edward Aníbal Pérez Reyes, presented his credentials to ISA Secretary-General, H.E. Mr. Michael W. Lodge, during a ceremony held in Kingston, Jamaica.

Ambassador Pérez is a career diplomat with over fifteen years of experience at the service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of his country. He was designated Permanent Representative to ISA on 16 September 2020.

Yesterday, the Permanent Representative of Italy to the International Seabed Authority (ISA) and to the United Nations, H.E. Ms. Mariangela Zappia, presented her credentials to ISA Secretary-General, H.E. Mr. Michael W. Lodge, during a virtual ceremony.

Ambassador Zappia is a career diplomat with over thirty years of experience. She has been Permanent Representative of Italy to the United Nations in New York since August 2018 and became Permanent Representative to ISA on 17 April 2021.

On 19 and 22 April 2021, the Secretariat of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) held the fourth annual meeting of exploration contractors to discuss issues of common interest and key areas of work relevant to contractors.

Blue Minerals Jamaica Ltd. (BMJ) and the International Seabed Authority (ISA) have signed on 16 March 2021 a 15-year contract for the exploration of polymetallic nodules in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone (CCZ) in the Pacific Ocean. The contract, which came into force on 4 April, marks the starting point of BMJ initial 5-year workplan, which will focus on exploration of its license area as well as setting the baseline for its environmental planning.

The first meeting of the National Focal Points in charge of liaising with the Secretariat of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) on matters relating to capacity development (NAFOP-CD) concluded today.