The Legal and Technical Commission (LTC) of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) officially opened its meetings under the first part of the 28th session taking place in Kingston, Jamaica, from 7 to 15 March 2023.
Following two days of orientation for the new members, the LTC proceeded with the election of Mr. Erasmo Lara Cabrera, Mexico, as Chair and Ms. Sissel Eriksen, Norway, as Vice-Chair of the LTC for the 28th session.
Welcoming the LTC members, the Secretary-General of ISA, H.E. Mr. Michael W. Lodge, emphasized the key role the LTC plays in the overall governance architecture of ISA to ensure that the decisions taken are informed by robust scientific and technical elements. “The work of the LTC is vital to the effective functioning of ISA. In many ways, they act as a bridge between the Council, as a political organ, and the Secretariat, the technical arm of ISA,” Mr. Lodge said.
“Recommendations of the LTC carry weight and are critical for decision-making in the Council. They are the main source of truly independent scientific and technical advice for the Council. In principle, the Council takes most of its decisions based on recommendations of the LTC,” he added.
During seven days of meetings, members of the LTC will discuss a series of items, including the current status of exploration contracts and periodic reviews of the implementation of plans of work for exploration, the status of implementation of training programmes under plans of work and the relinquishment of areas under contract for exploration for polymetallic sulphides and cobalt-rich ferromanganese crusts. In addition, the LTC will review ISA’s data management strategy for the period 2022-2026 and continue its work on the development of standards and guidelines to support the implementation of the regulations for the exploitation of mineral resources in the Area and on a standardized approach for the development, approval and review of regional environmental management plans.
The LTC will also start work on developing binding environmental threshold values following the decision adopted by the Council at its 27th session (ISBA/27/C/CRP.5/Rev.1).
The LTC is a body of experts nominated by ISA Members and elected by the ISA Council to serve in their individual capacities. The current LTC consists of 41 members elected in 2022 for a five-year term starting in January 2023.
More information on the 28th session of the LTC can be found here.
For media enquiries, please contact:
Ms. Stefanie Neno, Communications Specialist, ISA, sneno@isa.org.jm