Observers

29

Observer States

32

United Nations System and intergovernmental organizations

45

Non-governmental organizations

As of August 2023, ISA has 98 observers, including 29 observer States, 32 intergovernmental organizations and 45 non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

The ISA Assembly may grant observer status to entities in line with rule 82 of its Rules of Procedure and, where appropriate, the Guidelines for observer status of non-governmental organizations with ISA (Annex, ISBA/25/A/16).

Observers are allowed to participate in the work of the Assembly and the Council, with the limitations outlined below and in the Rules of Procedure of the Assembly and the Council.

How do Observers participate in the work of ISA?

  • The Observer States may participate in the deliberations of the Assembly but are not entitled to participate in the taking of decisions.
  • Observers from the United Nations and its specialized agencies and other intergovernmental organizations may participate in the deliberations of the Assembly if invited by the President on questions within the scope of their competence.
  • NGO Observers may sit at public meetings of the Assembly and, upon invitation from the President and subject to approval by the Assembly, may make oral statements on questions within the scope of their activities. Written statements submitted by NGO observers within the scope of their activities that are relevant to the work of the Assembly should be made available by the Secretariat in the quantities in the languages in which the statements are submitted.
  • All observers of ISA may designate representatives to participate, without the right to vote, in the deliberations of the Council, upon the invitation of the Council, on questions affecting them or within the scope of their activities.

Observer States

  • Afghanistan
  • Andorra
  • Bhutan
  • Burundi
  • Cambodia
  • Central African Republic
  • Colombia
  • Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
  • El Salvador
  • Eritrea
  • Ethiopia
  • Holy See
  • Iran (Islamic Republic of)
  • Israel
  • Kazakhstan
  • Kyrgyzstan
  • Libya
  • Liechtenstein
  • Peru
  • San Marino
  • South Sudan
  • Syrian Arab Republic
  • Tajikistan
  • Turkey
  • Turkmenistan
  • United Arab Emirates
  • United States of America
  • Uzbekistan
  • Venezuela

United Nations System and intergovernmental organizations

  • Commonwealth
  • Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
  • Inter-American Development Bank
  • Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission
  • International Atomic Energy Agency
  • International Civil Aviation Organization
  • International Fund for Agricultural Development
  • International Hydrographic Organization International
  • International Labour Organization
  • International Maritime Organization
  • International Monetary Fund
  • International Oil Pollution Compensation Fund
  • International Telecommunication Union
  • International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources
  • Interoceanmetal Joint Organization
  • OSPAR Commission
  • Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries
  • Permanent Commission for the South Pacific
  • Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity
  • Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme
  • The Pacific Community
  • United Nations
  • United Nations Development Programme
  • United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
  • United Nations Environment Programme
  • United Nations Industrial Development Organization
  • Universal Postal Union
  • World Bank
  • World Health Organization
  • World Intellectual Property Organization
  • World Meteorological Organization
  • World Trade Organization

Non-governmental organizations

  • Advisory Committee on Protection of the Sea
  • African Minerals Development Centre
  • Arayara International Institute
  • Center for Oceans Law and Policy, University of Virginia School of Law
  • Center for Polar and Deep Ocean Development, Shanghai Jiao Tong University
  • China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation
  • Cluster maritime français
  • Committee for Mineral Reserves International Reporting Standards
  • Conservation International
  • Deep Ocean Stewardship Initiative
  • Deep Sea Conservation Coalition
  • Durham University’s Centre for Borders Research
  • Earthworks
  • Environmental Justice Foundation Charitable Trust
  • Fish Reef Project
  • Greenpeace International
  • Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies
  • InterRidge
  • Interamerican Association for Environmental Defense
  • International Association of Drilling Contractors
  • International Cable Protection Committee
  • International Council on Mining and Metals
  • International Dialogue on Underwater Munitions
  • International Marine Minerals Society
  • International Ocean Institute
  • International Policy Laboratory of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  • Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology
  • Law of the Sea Institute
  • Minderoo Foundation
  • Mining Standards International
  • Norwegian Forum for Marine Minerals
  • OceanCare
  • Ocean North
  • Ocean Society of India
  • RESOLVE
  • Sargasso Sea Commission
  • Sasakawa Peace Foundation
  • Sustainable Ocean Alliance
  • Te Ipukarea Society
  • The Ocean Foundation
  • The Pew Charitable Trusts
  • Thyssen-Bornemisza Art Contemporary
  • World Ocean Council
  • World Organization of Dredging Associations
  • World Wildlife Fund International