The 31st Session of the International Seabed Authority
| Part I | |
| Legal and Technical Commission | 23 February – 6 March 2026 |
| Council | 9 – 19 March 2026 |
| Part II | |
| Legal and Technical Commission | 29 June – 10 July 2026 |
| Finance Committee | 7 – 10 July 2026 |
| Council | 13 – 24 July 2026 |
| Assembly | 27 – 31 July 2026 |
Delegates are requested to complete their registration online in advance of the session to facilitate the timely processing of registrations and the issuance of identification badges.
ISBA/31/A/CRP.1
Election to fill vacancies in the Council for the period 2027 To 2030 in accordance with Article 161, Paragraph 3, of the Convention
ISBA/31/A/CRP.2
Indicative list of Member States of the International Seabed Authority which would fulfil the criteria for membership in the various groups of States in the Council in accordance with Section 3, Paragraph 15, of the Annex to the agreement for the implementation of Part XI of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 december 1982
ISBA/31/A/L.1
Provisional agenda of the Assembly
ISBA/31/A/L.1/Rev.1
Provisional agenda of the Assembly
ISBA/31/A/INF/1 – ISBA/31/A/INF/16
ISBA/31/A/2
Report of the Secretary-General of the International Seabed Authority under article 166, paragraph 4, of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea
ISBA/31/A/3
Implementation of the action plan of the International Seabed Authority in support of the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development
ISBA/31/A/4 – ISBA/31/C/22
Proposed budget for the International Seabed Authority for the financial period 2027–2028
ISBA/31/A/4/Add.1-ISBA/31/C/22/Add.1
Proposed budget for the International Seabed Authority for the financial period 2027–2028 (Advance Unedited Version)
ISBA/31/A/5
Letter dated 15 May 2026 from the Secretary-General addressed to the President of the Assembly
ISBA/31/A/6 – ISBA/31/C/23
Report on activities related to the Enterprise
ISBA/31/A/7
Guidelines for observer status of contractors with the International Seabed Authority
ISBA/31/A/8
Consideration of a request for an advisory opinion from the Seabed Disputes Chamber of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea pursuant to article 191 of the Convention on matters relating to the legal implications for the International Seabed Authority of activities in the Area undertaken by non-States Parties
ISBA/31/A/9
Election to fill a vacancy on the Finance Committee, in accordance with section 9, paragraph 5, of the annex to the Agreement relating to the Implementation of Part XI of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982
ISBA/31/A/10-ISBA/31/C/28
Report of the Finance Committee (Advance Unedited Version)
ISBA/31/C/CRP.6
Draft decision of the Council on the Election mechanisms of the members of the Economic Planning Commission
ISBA/31/C/L.1
Provisional agenda of the Council
ISBA/31/C/L.2
Draft decision of the Council of the International Seabed Authority relating to an application for extension of the contract for exploration for polymetallic nodules between Interoceanmetal Joint Organization and the International Seabed Authority
ISBA/31/C/L.4
Draft decision of the Council of the International Seabed Authority relating to an application for extension of the contract for exploration for polymetallic nodules between the Government of the Republic of Korea and the International Seabed Authority
ISBA/31/C/L.5
Draft decision of the Council of the International Seabed Authority relating to an application for extension of the contract for exploration for polymetallic nodules between the China Ocean Mineral Resources Research and Development Association and the International Seabed Authority
ISBA/31/C/L.3
Draft decision of the Council of the International Seabed Authority relating to an application for extension of the contract for exploration for polymetallic nodules between JSC Yuzhmorgeologiya and the International Seabed Authority
ISBA/31/C/L.7
Draft decision of the Council of the International Seabed Authority relating to an application for extension of the contract for exploration for polymetallic nodules between the Institut français de recherche pour l’exploitation de la mer and the International Seabed Authority
ISBA/31/C/L.6
Draft decision of the Council relating to an application for extension of the contract for exploration for polymetallic nodules between Deep Ocean Resources Development Co. Ltd. and the International Seabed Authority
ISBA/31/C/L.8
Draft decision of the Council of the International Seabed Authority relating to an application for extension of the contract for exploration for polymetallic nodules with the Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources of the Federal Republic of Germany (Advance Unedited Version).
ISBA/31/C/L.9
Draft decision of the Council of the International Seabed Authority relating to an application for extension of the contract for exploration for polymetallic nodules with Nauru Ocean Resources Inc.
ISBA/31/C/L.10
Draft decision of the Council of the International Seabed Authority relating to an application for extension of the contract for exploration for polymetallic sulphides between China Ocean Mineral Resources Research and Development Association (Advance Unedited Version)
ISBA/31/C/L.11
Draft decision of the Council of the International Seabed Authority relating to financial and budgetary matters (Advance Unedited Version)
ISBA/31/C/INF/1/Rev.1
List of Delegations
ISBA/31/C/1
Agenda of the Council
ISBA/31/C/2
Potential implications and opportunities for the work of the International Seabed Authority of the operation of 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
ISBA/31/C/2/Rev.1
Potential implications and opportunities for the work of the International Seabed Authority of the operation of 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
ISBA/31/C/3
Status of contracts for exploration and related matters, including information on the periodic review of the implementation of approved plans of work for exploration
ISBA/31/C/3/Add.1
Status of contracts for exploration and related matters, including information on the periodic review of the implementation of approved plans of work for exploration
ISBA/31/C/4
Report of the Chair of the Legal and Technical Commission on the work of the Commission at the first part of its thirty-first session
ISBA/31/C/4/Add.1
Report of the Legal and Technical Commission on the implementation of the Council’s decision relating to a request of additional information from contractors at risk of non-compliance with their contractual obligations
ISBA/31/C/4/Add.2
Report of the Chair of the Legal and Technical Commission on the work of the Commission at the second part of its thirty- first session (Advance Unedited Version)
ISBA/31/C/5
Application for extension of the contract for exploration for polymetallic nodules between Interoceanmetal Joint Organization and the International Seabed Authority
ISBA/31/C/6
Application for extension of the contract for exploration for polymetallic nodules between JSC Yuzhmorgeologiya and the International Seabed Authority
ISBA/31/C/7
Application for extension of the contract for exploration for polymetallic nodules between the Government of the Republic of Korea and the International Seabed Authority
ISBA/31/C/9
Application for extension of the contract for exploration for polymetallic nodules between Deep Ocean Resources Development Co. Ltd. and the International Seabed Authority
ISBA/31/C/8
Application for extension of the contract for exploration for polymetallic nodules between the China Ocean Mineral Resources Research and Development Association and the International Seabed Authority
ISBA/31/C/10
Application for extension of the contract for exploration for polymetallic nodules between the Institut français de recherche pour l’exploitation de la mer and the International Seabed Authority
ISBA/31/C/11
Election mechanisms of the members of the Economic Planning Commission
ISBA/31/C/12
Decision of the Council of the International Seabed Authority relating to an application for extension of the contract for exploration for polymetallic nodules between Interoceanmetal Joint Organization and the Authority
ISBA/31/C/13
Decision of the Council of the International Seabed Authority relating to an application for extension of the contract for exploration for polymetallic nodules between JSC Yuzhmorgeologiya and the Authority
ISBA/31/C/14
Decision of the Council of the International Seabed Authority relating to an application for extension of the contract for exploration for polymetallic nodules between the Government of the Republic of Korea and the Authority
ISBA/31/C/15
Decision of the Council of the International Seabed Authority relating to an application for extension of the contract for exploration for polymetallic nodules between the China Ocean Mineral Resources Research and Development Association and the Authority (Advance Unedited Version)
ISBA/31/C/16
Decision of the Council relating to an application for extension of the contract for exploration for polymetallic nodules between Deep Ocean Resources Development Co. Ltd. and the Authority (Advance Unedited Version)
ISBA/31/C/17
Decision of the Council of the International Seabed Authority relating to an application for extension of the contract for exploration for polymetallic nodules between the Institut français de recherche pour l’exploitation de la mer and the Authority (Advance Unedited Version)
ISBA/31/C/18
Decision of the Council relating to the report of the Legal and Technical Commission on the implementation of the Council’s decision relating to a request of additional information from contractors at risk of non-compliance with their contractual obligations (ISBA/30/C/19) (Advance Unedited Version)
ISBA/31/C/19
Statement of the President on the work of the Council of the International Seabed Authority during the first part of the thirty-first session
ISBA/31/C/19/Rev.1
Statement of the President on the work of the Council of the International Seabed Authority during the first part of the thirty-first session
ISBA/31/C/20
Election to fill a vacancy on the Legal and Technical Commission in accordance with article 163, paragraph 7, of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea
ISBA/31/C/21
Laws, regulations and administrative measures adopted by sponsoring States and other members of the International Seabed Authority with respect to the activities in the Area, and related matters
ISBA/31/C/22 – ISBA/31/A/4
Proposed budget for the International Seabed Authority for the financial period 2027–2028
ISBA/31/C/22/Add.1 – ISBA/31/A/4/Add.1
Proposed budget for the International Seabed Authority for the financial period 2027–2028 (Advance Unedited Version)
ISBA/31/C/23 – ISBA/31/A/6
Report on activities related to the Enterprise
ISBA/31/C/24
Implementation of the decision of the Council in 2025 relating to the reports of the Chair of the Legal and Technical Commission (Advance Unedited Version)
ISBA/31/C/25
Application for extension of the contract for exploration for polymetallic nodules between the Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources of the Federal Republic of Germany and the International Seabed Authority (Advance Unedited Version)
ISBA/31/C/26
Application for extension of the contract for exploration for polymetallic nodules between Nauru Ocean Resources Inc and the International Seabed Authority (Advance Unedited Version)
ISBA/31/C/27
Application for extension of the contract for exploration for polymetallic sulphides between China Ocean Mineral Resources Research and Development Association and the International Seabed Authority (Advance Unedited Version)
ISBA/31/C/28 – ISBA/31/A/10
Report of the Finance Committee (Advance Unedited Version)
ISBA/31/C/29
Status of the proceedings pending before the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea
ISBA/31/C/30
Report on the relinquishment of one-third of the area allocated to the Government of the Republic of Korea under the contract for exploration for cobalt-rich ferromanganese crusts signed with the International Seabed Authority (Advance Unedited Version)
ISBA/31/C/31
Report on the relinquishment of 75 per cent of the area allocated to the Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources under the contract for exploration for polymetallic sulphides signed with the International Seabed Authority (Advance Unedited Version)
ISBA/31/C/32
Election to fill a vacancy on the Legal and Technical Commission in accordance with article 163, paragraph 7, of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (Advance Unedited Version)
ISBA/31/FC/L.1
Provisional agenda
ISBA/31/FC/1
Agenda of the Finance Committee
ISBA/31/FC/2
New members of the Authority
ISBA/31/FC/3
Indicative scale of assessed contributions to the administrative budget for the financial period 2027–2028
ISBA/31/FC/4
Standards of accommodation for air travel
ISBA/31/FC/5
Report on the process and criteria for the implementation of article 184 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea
ISBA/31/FC/6
Financial implications of establishing the Economic Planning Commission
ISBA/31/FC/6/Corr.1
Financial implications of establishing the Economic Planning Commission
ISBA/31/LTC/1
Agenda of the Legal and Technical Commission
ISBA/31/LTC/2
Application for approval of a plan of work for exploration for polymetallic nodules by Impossible Metals Bahrain W.L.L.
ISBA/31/LTC/3/Rev.1
Applications for the extension of approved plans of work for exploration pursuant to section 1, paragraph 9, of the annex to the Agreement relating to the Implementation of Part XI of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982
ISBA/31/LTC/3/Rev.1/ Add.1
Applications for the extension of approved plans of work for exploration pursuant to section 1, paragraph 9, of the annex to the Agreement relating to the Implementation of Part XI of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982
ISBA/31/LTC/4
Election mechanisms for members of the Economic Planning Commission
ISBA/31/LTC/5
Selection of candidates for training programmes under plans of work for exploration
ISBA/31/LTC/6
Relinquishment of one-third of the area allocated to the Government of the Republic of Korea under the contract for exploration for cobalt-rich ferromanganese crusts signed with the International Seabed Authority
ISBA/31/LTC/7
Relinquishment of 75 per cent of the area allocated to the Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources under the contract for exploration for polymetallic sulphides signed with the International Seabed Authority
ISBA/31/LTC/8
Development of Standards and Guidelines for activities in the Area
ISBA/31/LTC/9
Review of the environmental impact statement submitted by the Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources
ISBA/31/LTC/10
Selection of candidates for training programmes under plans of work for exploration (Advance Unedited Version)
Media Attendance
- In-person participation is encouraged for accredited media
- Virtual access will be available via live stream on the ISA Web TV
Media accreditation
- Journalists wishing to attend the Council Meeting in person must apply for media accreditation using this form by 17:00 hrs (Jamaica time) on 1 July 2026.
- Applications will be reviewed as soon as they are received.
- Late applications will not be accepted.
- Once accredited, journalists must collect their ISA entry and media passes upon arrival and display them at all times within the venue.
Read the Media Access Guidelines
The meetings of the Assembly and the Council will be streamed live on the Web TV of the Authority in all six languages of the Authority.
The Secretariat of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) welcomes delegates of the members of the Authority as well as the observers to Kingston for the meetings of Part II of the 31st session of the Authority (13 – 31 July 2026), which will take place at the Jamaica Conference Centre.
Please find practical information below to make your conference stay in Kingston a success.
Delegates are requested to complete registration online in advance of the session to facilitate the timely processing of registrations and the issuance of identification badges.
Side Events Registration
- Side Events form* (those being organized at the JCC): Side Events form_ 31st Session_July 2026
- Stakeholder Events form* (those being organized outside the JCC): Stakeholder Events form_31st Session_July 2026
For both categories, forms should be submitted by 10 July 2026, with the schedule to be published on the website and organizers notified by 14 July 2026 (dates reflected on forms).
Daily Journal – Council, Part II
Daily Journal – Council, Part I
Important Texts and Publications
| Publication | English | French | Spanish | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Delegates Flipbook | EN | FR | ES |
 |
Consolidation of Part XI of the Convention and the Implementation Agreement | EN | ||
 |
Selected decisions and documents of 30th session | EN | FR | ES |
 |
Consolidated regulations and recommendations on prospecting and exploration | EN | FR | ES |
 |
International Seabed Authority: Basic Texts | EN | FR | ES |
Conference WIFI Accessibility Information
Network identity: SEABED31
Password: I$A2026!
Special Rates for Accommodations
The Secretariat of the ISA has secured special accommodation rates for delegates and media at a number of hotels in Kingston.
Please follow the booking link to secure the offered rate below.
| Hotel | Council Group Rates | Legal Group Rates |
|---|---|---|
| Jamaica Pegasus Hotel | Book Now | Book Now |
| Courtleigh Hotel & Suites | Book Now | Book Now |
Session Lunch Menu
| Week 1 | ||||
| Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday |
| Stew Pork | Brown Stew Mutton | Black Pepper Beef | Stew Peas with Beef and Pork | BBQ Pork |
| Steamed Fish | Cajun Garlic Butter Shrimp | Pan Fried Snapper Fillet | Pineapple Curry Shrimp | Lemon Garlic Fish Fillet |
| Oven Roasted BBQ Chicken | Honey Lemon Garlic Chicken | Malah Chicken | Spicy Fried Chicken | Chinese Roast Chicken |
| Curry Pumpkin Chick Peas | Ital Stew | Three Bean Stew | BBQ Tofu | Creamy CoConut Pumpkin Stew |
| Rice and Peas | Spanish Rice | Pumpkin Rice | Plain Rice | Vegetable Fried Rice |
| Mash Sweet Potato | Potato Salad | Stir Fry Noodles | Garlic Mash Potato | Herb Roast Potato |
| BBQ Cauliflower | Snow peas and Sweet Corn | Garlic Egg Plant and Zuchini | Sautee Babby Corn and Beans | Sautee Market Vegetables |
| Tossed Vegetables | Steamed Vegetables | Tossed Vegetables | Steamed Vegetables | Tossed Vegetables |
Transportation Schedule
A daily shuttle service will be available to transport delegates to and from the JCC.
During the meetings of the Legal and Technical Commission, the assembly point is at the Courtleigh Hotel & Suites.
During the meetings of the Finance Committee, the assembly point is at the Courtleigh Hotel & Suites.
During the meetings of the Council and Assembly, the assembly point for transportation to and from the headquarters is the Pegasus Hotel.
During the first day of each of the meetings, the participants are advised to be ready at the assembly point where the bus will be waiting at 08:00.
During all other days, the participants are advised to be ready at the assembly points at 09:15.
Please be advised that the cost for transportation during the meetings of the Council is USD14 / JMD 2,000 for a round trip or USD7 / JMD 1,000 one way.
Discover Jamaica
Jamaica Cultural Tours, together with the ISA Secretariat, have specially curated a number of tours for delegations, observers, and the media to enjoy while in Jamaica during LTC and Council sessions. Please check out the tour options here: ISA Weekend Tours
Monday, July 13
Council (355th meeting)
- Item 1: Resumption of the session.
- Item 6: Election to fill a vacancy on the Legal and Technical Commission (Namibia).
- Item 21: Other matters.
−Consideration of a third part of the thirty-first session. - Item 11: Consideration, with a view to adoption, of the draft regulations on exploitation of mineralresources in the Area.
−Presentation of the Rev. 3 of the Further Revised Consolidated Text of the draft regulations on exploitation of mineral resources in the Area.
−Presentation of the revised indicative list of outstanding issues and examination by the Council.
−Regulatory. Chief Inspector, Inspectors and Inspections. Draft regulations 97bis-101 (continuation from 1st part of 31st session).
Date/Time: Monday, July 13, 2026 10:00 - 13:00 EST
Location: Conference Room 1
Type: Plenary
Documents:
Dialogues with the LTC: REMPs
Dialogue hosted by the Legal and Technical Commission: REMPs.
Date/Time: Monday, July 13, 2026 13:45 - 15:00 EST
Location: Delegates Dining Room
Type: Other
Council (356th meeting)
•Item 11: Negotiations on the Further Revised Consolidated Text.
−Regulatory. Chief Inspector, Inspectors and Inspections. Draft regulations 97bis-101 (continuation from 1st part of 31st session).
Date/Time: Monday, July 13, 2026 15:00 - 18:00 EST
Location: Conference Room 1
Type: Plenary
Tuesday, July 14
Dialogues with the LTC: Development of environmental threshold values
Dialogue hosted by the Legal and Technical Commission: Development of environmental threshold values.
Date/Time: Tuesday, July 14, 2026 08:45 - 10:00 EST
Location: Delegates Dining Room
Type: Other
Council (357th meeting)
• Item 13: Report of the Chair of the Legal and Technical Commission on the work of the Commission during the second part of its thirty-first session.
Date/Time: Tuesday, July 14, 2026 10:00 - 13:00 EST
Location: Conference Room 1
Type: Plenary
Council (358th meeting)
• Item 11: Negotiations on the Further Revised Consolidated Text.
− Annexes.
Date/Time: Tuesday, July 14, 2026 15:00 - 18:00 EST
Location: Conference Room 1
Type: Plenary
Wednesday, July 15
Informal Meeting: Authority’s working modalities
Authority’s working modalities, cross-cutting issue.
Date/Time: Wednesday, July 15, 2026 09:00 - 10:00 EST
Location: Conference Room 4
Type: Working Group
Council (359th meeting)
• Item 11: Negotiations on the Further Revised Consolidated Text.
− Annexes.
− Regulatory. Review of These Regulations (Friends of the President, Belgium), draft regulation 107 – 1 hour.
Date/Time: Wednesday, July 15, 2026 10:00 - 13:00 EST
Location: Conference Room 1
Type: Plenary
Council (360th meeting)
• Item 11: Negotiations on the Further Revised Consolidated Text.
− Environmental. Protection of Submarine Cables (Friends of the President, Singapore), draft regulations 31 and 31 bis – 1.5 hours.
− Regulatory. Seabed Mining Register (Friends of the President, India), draft regulations 92 – 1.5 hours.
Date/Time: Wednesday, July 15, 2026 15:00 - 18:00 EST
Location: Conference Room 1
Type: Plenary
Thursday, July 16
Informal meeting: Non-confidentiality of Environmental Data
Non-confidentiality of Environmental Data, draft regulation 89, paragraph (3)(f).
Date/Time: Thursday, July 16, 2026 09:00 - 10:00 EST
Location: Conference Room 4
Type: Working Group
Council (361st meeting)
• Item 11: Negotiations on the Further Revised Consolidated Text.
− Annexes and Schedule.
Date/Time: Thursday, July 16, 2026 10:00 - 13:00 EST
Location: Conference Room 1
Type: Plenary
Informal meeting: Financial
Financial. Equalization Measure (Informal Working Group, Australia), draft regulation 64 bis and Draft Equalisation Standard
Date/Time: Thursday, July 16, 2026 14:00 - 15:00 EST
Location: Conference Room 4
Type: Working Group
Council (362nd meeting)
• Item 11: Negotiations on the Further Revised Consolidated Text.
− Financial. Payment System and Review of Payment Mechanism (Friends of the President, Canada), draft regulations 81-82, Draft Standard and Guidelines and Schedule – 1.5 hours.
− Financial. Monopolization (Friends of the President, Trinidad & Tobago), draft regulations 13, 15, 24, 24bis and Schedule – 1.5 hours.
Date/Time: Thursday, July 16, 2026 15:00 - 18:00 EST
Location: Conference Room 1
Type: Plenary
Friday, July 17
Council (363rd meeting)
• Item 11: Negotiations on the Further Revised Consolidated Text.
− Environmental. Reference to REMPs (Informal Working Group, Netherlands), cross-cutting issues – 1.5 hours.
− Environmental. Environmental Management and Monitoring (Informal Working Group, Norway), draft regulations 49-52 – 1.5 hours.
Date/Time: Friday, July 17, 2026 10:00 - 13:00 EST
Location: Conference Room 1
Type: Plenary
Council (364th meeting)
Item 11: Negotiations on the Further Revised Consolidated Text.
− Regulatory. Whistleblowing Protections, draft regulation 101 bis (deferred from 1st part of 31st session) – 1.5 hours.
− Draft General Policy on Whistleblowing, ISBA/31/C/CRP.9.
− Regulatory. Effective Control (Informal Working Group, Chile, Costa Rica) (deferred from 1st part of 31st session), draft standard and introductory note. – 1.5 hours.
Date/Time: Friday, July 17, 2026 15:00 - 18:00 EST
Location: Conference Room 1
Type: Plenary
Monday, July 20
Council (365th meeting)
- Item 6: Elections to fill vacancies on the Legal and Technical Commission, Namibia ISBA/31/C/20, Republic of Korea.
- Item 8: Report of the Secretary-General on the status of national legislation relating to deep seabed mining and related matters, ISBA/31/C/21.
- Item 7: Report of the Secretary-General on the status of contracts for exploration and related matters, including information on the periodic review of the implementation of approved plans of work for exploration, ISBA/31/C/3/Add.1.
- Report on the relinquishment of one-third of the area allocated to the Government of the Republic of Korea under the contract for exploration for cobalt-rich ferromanganese crusts, ISBA/31/C/30.
- Report on the relinquishment of 75 per cent of the area allocated to the Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources under the contract for exploration for polymetallic sulphides, ISBA/31/C/31.
- Item 12: Report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the decision of the Council in 2025 relating to the reports of the Chair of the Legal and Technical Commission, ISBA/31/C/24.
Date/Time: Monday, July 20, 2026 10:00 - 13:00 EST
Location: Conference Room 1
Type: Plenary
Informal meeting: ICE Mechanism
ICE Mechanism (Informal Working Group, Norway), draft regulation 95 bis, draft decision on the establishment of the Compliance Committee, ISBA/31/C/CRP.8.
Date/Time: Monday, July 20, 2026 14:00 - 15:00 EST
Location: Conference Room 4
Type: Working Group
Council (366th meeting)
- Item 15: Operationalization of the Economic Planning Commission.
- Draft decision of the Council on the election mechanisms of the Economic Planning Commission, ISBA/31/C/CRP.6.
- Item 10: Consideration, with a view to approval, of applications for extension of a contract for exploration.
- Application for extension of the contract for exploration for polymetallic nodules between the Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources of the Federal Republic of Germany and the International Seabed Authority, ISBA/31/C/25, and draft decision, ISBA/31/C/L.8.
- Application for extension of the contract for exploration for polymetallic nodules between Nauru Ocean Resources Inc and the International Seabed Authority, ISBA/31/C/26, and draft decision, ISBA/31/C/L.9.
- Application for extension of the contract for exploration for polymetallic sulphides between China Ocean Mineral Resources Research and Development Association and the International Seabed Authority, ISBA/31/C/27, and draft decision, ISBA/31/C/L.10.
- Item 14: Report of the interim Director-General of the Enterprise, ISBA/31/C/23 – ISBA/31/A/6.
Date/Time: Monday, July 20, 2026 15:00 - 18:00 EST
Location: Conference Room 1
Type: Plenary
Stakeholder Event: Defending Rule of Law on the Seabed: Unpacking UNCLOS Articles 137-139
Organized by: Coalter Lathrop
RSVP: https://sovereigngeographic.com/defending-seabed/
Date/Time: Monday, July 20, 2026 19:00 - 22:00 EST
Location: Montego Suite, Pegasus Hotel
Type: Side Event
Tuesday, July 21
Council (367th meeting)
• Item 11: Negotiations on the Further Revised Consolidated Text.
− Environmental. Test Mining and Pilot Mining (Informal Working Group, Belgium, China, Germany), draft regulation 48 ter (and draft regulations 7,11,12,13,46,48, 48 bis, Annex VII and Schedule). Aid to discussion. – 1.5 hours.
− Environmental. Closure Plans (Informal Working Group, Fiji), draft regulations 51 to 52ter and Annex VIII – 1.5 hours.
Date/Time: Tuesday, July 21, 2026 10:00 - 13:00 EST
Location: Conference Room 1
Type: Plenary
Informal meeting
Draft decision of the Council relating to the reports of the Chair of the Legal and Technical Commission (co-sponsored by Singapore and Australia). State Members only.
Date/Time: Tuesday, July 21, 2026 14:00 - 15:00 EST
Location: Conference Room 4
Type: Working Group
Council (368th meeting)
• Item 11: Negotiations on the Further Revised Consolidated Text.
– Regulatory. Compliance and enforcement measures (Friends of the President, Netherlands), draft regulations 103-105, note for discussion – 1.5 hours.
Date/Time: Tuesday, July 21, 2026 15:00 - 18:00 EST
Location: Conference Room 1
Type: Plenary
Stakeholder Event: Living Heritage, Legal Imperatives: Integrating Indigenous Participation into Deep-Seabed Mining
Date/Time: Tuesday, July 21, 2026 19:00 - 22:00 EST
Location: The Courtyard by the Marriott: https://maps.app.goo.gl/UGecSeja1Mexdfa89
Type: Side Event
Wednesday, July 22
Informal meeting: Potentially Polluting Wrecks
Potentially Polluting Wrecks (Friends of the President, Spain), briefing note and textual proposal.
Date/Time: Wednesday, July 22, 2026 09:00 - 10:00 EST
Location: Conference Room 4
Type: Working Group
Council (369th meeting)
• Item 11: Negotiations on the Further Revised Consolidated Text.
− Governance. Rights and Interests of Coastal States (Informal Working Group, Portugal, Singapore), draft regulations 4, 4 bis and 93 bis – 1.5 hours.
− Governance. Underwater Cultural Heritage (Informal Working Group, Brazil, Greece, Micronesia), draft regulations 35, 35 Alt and other related draft regulations. Briefing note for thematic discussion. – 1.5 hours.
Date/Time: Wednesday, July 22, 2026 10:00 - 13:00 EST
Location: Conference Room 1
Type: Plenary
Informal meeting: Regulatory
Regulatory. Seabed Mining Register (Friends of the President, India), draft regulation 92. Summary and aid to discussion.
Date/Time: Wednesday, July 22, 2026 14:00 - 15:00 EST
Location: Conference Room 4
Type: Working Group
Informal Meeting
Draft decision of the Council relating to the reports of the Chair of the Legal and Technical Commission (co-sponsored by Singapore and Australia). State Members only.
Date/Time: Wednesday, July 22, 2026 15:00 - 16:30 EST
Location: Conference Room 4
Type: Working Group
Council (370th meeting)
- Item 11: Negotiations on the Further Revised Consolidated Text.
−Environmental. Environmental Goals and Objectives (Friends of the President, Germany), draft regulation 44 ter. Aid to discussion. – 1.5 hours.
Date/Time: Wednesday, July 22, 2026 16:30 - 18:00 EST
Location: Conference Room 1
Type: Plenary
Stakeholder Event: Science for Both BBNJ and ISA
Organized by: Deep-Ocean Stewardship Initiative
Date/Time: Wednesday, July 22, 2026 19:00 - 23:00 EST
Location: Talk of Town Room, Pegasus Hotel
Type: Side Event
Thursday, July 23
Council (371st meeting)
• Item 5: Report of the Secretary-General on the credentials of members of the Council.
• Item 16: Report of the Finance Committee (ISBA/31/A/10-ISBA/31/C/28).
• Item 15: Operationalization of the Economic Planning Commission.
− Report of the Finance Committee on the financial implications and the most practical timelines for the Economic Planning Commission.
Date/Time: Thursday, July 23, 2026 10:00 - 13:00 EST
Location: Conference Room 1
Type: Plenary
Council (372nd meeting)
• Item 17: Budget of the International Seabed Authority (ISBA/31/A/4-ISBA/31/C/22).
− Draft decision of the Council relating to financial and budgetary matters (ISBA/31/C/L.11).
• Item 18: Adoption of the scale of assessment for contributions to the budget of the International Seabed Authority for the financial period 2027–2028.
Date/Time: Thursday, July 23, 2026 15:00 - 18:00 EST
Location: Conference Room 1
Type: Plenary
Friday, July 24
Council (373rd meeting)
• Item 11: Negotiations on the Further Revised Consolidated Text.
− Standard and Guidelines.*
*According to ISBA/31/C/19/Rev.1, paragraph 42.
Date/Time: Friday, July 24, 2026 10:00 - 13:00 EST
Location: Conference Room 1
Type: Plenary
Council (374th meeting)
• Item 11: Consideration, with a view to adoption, of the draft regulations on exploitation of mineral resources in the Area.
– Assessment of the remaining work that would be needed prior to the adoption of the rules, regulations and procedures and establishment of a road map to that end.*
– Agreement on necessary intersessional work.
• Adoption of draft decisions (as required).
• Item 20: Dates of the next session.
• End of the second part of the thirty-first session.
*According to ISBA/30/C/18, paragraph 8.
Date/Time: Friday, July 24, 2026 15:00 - 18:00 EST
Location: Conference Room 1
Type: Plenary
Saturday, July 25
Stakeholder event: Deep Sea Dialogues 2nd Edition
An open exchange with experts on the science, economics and governance of the deep seabed.
Organized by: Dona Bertarelli Philanthropy, the IUCN, and Oceano Azul Foundation
Date/Time: Saturday, July 25, 2026 13:30 - 18:30 EST
Location: Institute of Jamaica, 10 - 16 East Street, Kingston
Type: Side Event
Documents:
Monday, July 27
Assembly (225th meeting)
• Item 1: Opening of the session.
• Item 2: Adoption of the agenda: ISBA/31/A/L.1/Rev.1.
• Item 3: Election of the President.
• Item 4: Election of the Vice-Presidents.
• Item 5: Appointment of the Credentials Committee.
• Item 8: Election to fill a vacancy on the Finance Committee, if any.
• Item 6: Guidelines for observer status in accordance with rule 82, paragraph 1, of the rules of procedure of the Assembly: ISBA/31/A/7.
• Item 7: Consideration of requests for observer status: ISBA/30/A/INF/12; ISBA/31/A/INF/1 to ISBA/31/A/INF/16.
• Item 15: Oral statement by the President of the Council on the work of the Council during the thirty-first session: ISBA/31/C/19/Rev.1; ISBA/31/C/19/Add.1.
Date/Time: Monday, July 27, 2026 10:00 - 13:00 EST
Location: Conference Room 1
Type: Plenary
ISA event: The New Era of ISA’s Global Mentoring Programme See Her Exceed (SHE)
Date/Time: Monday, July 27, 2026 13:00 - 14:15 EST
Location: Conference Room 1
Type: Side Event
Assembly (226th meeting)
• Item 9: Annual report of the Secretary-General under article 166, paragraph 4, of the Convention. Presentation by the Secretary-General:
– Annual report of the Secretary-General: ISBA/31/A/2; ISBA/31/A/5.
– Report on the implementation of the action plan of the International Seabed Authority in support of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development: ISBA/31/A/3.
Date/Time: Monday, July 27, 2026 15:00 - 18:00 EST
Location: Conference Room 1
Type: Plenary
Tuesday, July 28
Assembly (227th meeting)
• Item 9: Annual report of the Secretary-General under article 166, paragraph 4, of the Convention: statements.
– Annual report of the Secretary-General: ISBA/31/A/2; ISBA/31/A/5;
– Report on the implementation of the action plan of the International Seabed Authority in support of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development: ISBA/31/A/3.
Date/Time: Tuesday, July 28, 2026 10:00 - 13:00 EST
Location: Conference Room 1
Type: Plenary
ISA event: Sustainable Seabed Knowledge Initiative (SSKI): Advancing Deep-Sea Biodiversity Knowledge Through Global Partnership
Date/Time: Tuesday, July 28, 2026 14:00 - 15:00 EST
Location: Delegates Dining Room
Type: Side Event
Assembly (228th meeting)
• Item 9: Annual report of the Secretary-General under article 166, paragraph 4, of the Convention: statements.
– Annual report of the Secretary-General: ISBA/31/A/2; ISBA/31/A/5.
– Report on the implementation of the action plan of the International Seabed Authority in support of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development: ISBA/31/A/3.
Date/Time: Tuesday, July 28, 2026 15:00 - 18:00 EST
Location: Conference Room 1
Type: Plenary
Wednesday, July 29
Assembly (229th meeting)
• Item 12: Report and recommendations of the Finance Committee: ISBA/31/A/..-ISBA/31/C/,,,;
• Item 13: Adoption of the budget of the International Seabed Authority: ISBA/31/A/4-ISBA/31/C/22.
• Item 14: Adoption of the scale of assessment for the contributions to the budget of the International Seabed Authority.
Date/Time: Wednesday, July 29, 2026 10:00 - 13:00 EST
Location: Conference Room 1
Type: Plenary
ISA Event: African Academy for Deep Sea Diplomacy: Leadership in Deep Sea Governance
Date/Time: Wednesday, July 29, 2026 14:00 - 15:00 EST
Location: Delegates Dining Room
Type: Side Event
Assembly (230th meeting)
• Item 11: Report of the interim Director-General of the Enterprise: ISBA/31/A/6-ISBA/31/C/23.
• Item 12: Report and recommendations of the Finance Committee: process and criteria for the implementation of article 184 of the Convention.
Date/Time: Wednesday, July 29, 2026 15:00 - 18:00 EST
Location: Conference Room 1
Type: Plenary
Thursday, July 30
Assembly (231st meeting)
- Item 10: Periodic review of the international regime of the Area pursuant to article 154 of the Convention.
- Item 18: Ensuring adequate scientific understanding to support informed decision-making.
Date/Time: Thursday, July 30, 2026 10:00 - 13:00 EST
Location: Conference Room 1
Type: Plenary
Stakeholder event: Circularity before the Seabed: a facilitated exploration of how the circular economy impacts the demand for mining
Organized by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation and Minderoo Foundation
Date/Time: Thursday, July 30, 2026 14:00 - 15:00 EST
Location: Delegates Dining Room
Type: Side Event
Assembly (232nd meeting)
• Item 17: Consideration of a request for an advisory opinion from the Seabed Disputes Chamber of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea pursuant to article 191 of the Convention on matters relating to the legal implications for the International Seabed Authority of activities in the Area undertaken by non-States Parties: ISBA/31/A/8.
Date/Time: Thursday, July 30, 2026 15:00 - 18:00 EST
Location: Conference Room 1
Type: Plenary
Stakeholder Event: Deep-Sea Dialogues Readout
Organized by: Dona Bertarelli Philanthropy, the IUCN, and Oceano Azul Foundation
Date/Time: Thursday, July 30, 2026 18:15 - 19:15 EST
Location: Conference Room 1
Type: Side Event
Friday, July 31
Assembly (233rd meeting)
• Item 16: Report of the Credentials Committee.
• Item 19: Election to fill the vacancies on the Council in accordance with article 161, paragraph 3, of the Convention: ISBA/31/A/CRP.1; ISBA/31/A/CRP.2.
Date/Time: Friday, July 31, 2026 10:00 - 13:00 EST
Location: Conference Room 1
Type: Plenary
Stakeholder event: Navigating the Future of the Deep Sea: Security, Precaution and Multilateral Pathways
Organized by the Government of Kenya and WWF
Date/Time: Friday, July 31, 2026 14:00 - 15:00 EST
Location: Delegates Dining Room
Type: Side Event
Assembly (234th meeting)
• Item 20: Dates of the next session of the Assembly.
• Item 21: Other matters.
Date/Time: Friday, July 31, 2026 15:00 - 18:00 EST
Location: Conference Room 1
Type: Plenary
No programme events for this session yet.
No programme events for this session yet.