The second part of the 28th session of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) was held in Kingston, Jamaica, with the second part of the Council meeting taking place from July 10 to 21, followed by the Assembly from July 24 to 28. ISA members including China, Jamaica, Germany, France, Russia and Singapore sent delegations, and observers including the United States, the Pew Charitable Trusts, the Deep Sea Conservation Coalition and the Center for Polar and Deep Ocean Development of Shanghai Jiao Tong University attended.
Against the background of the exploitation regulations not having been completed within the two-year period provided for under the 1994 Implementing Agreement, the Council focused its discussions on the drafting of the exploitation regulations and the procedure for handling exploitation applications in the absence of regulations. It decided to produce a single consolidated text of the exploitation regulations in November of this year and to assess and adjust the drafting work in July 2024, with a view to adopting the regulations in 2025.
The Council continued the work of its four informal working groups, covering financial matters, the environment, inspection and compliance, and institutional matters, with consultations on the remaining text chaired by the Council President. Council members and observers commented on the issues involved and the relevant draft regulations, exchanging views on the payment model, fair benefit sharing and the compliance and inspection mechanism. The working group facilitators invited parties to submit written comments by September 15, and it was decided to form several intersessional working groups to discuss outstanding issues in parallel.
The Assembly discussed the ISA’s relationships of coordination with other international agreements and organizations, including the agreement on marine biodiversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ) and the OSPAR Commission under the Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic. It considered and approved a supplementary budget for the appointment of an interim director-general of the Enterprise, decided to place items including the periodic review of the international seabed regime on the agenda of the next Assembly, and extended the ISA’s existing 2019-2023 strategic plan by two years with a view to preparing a more comprehensive ISA strategic plan for 2024-2028.
(Source: Permanent Mission of the People’s Republic of China to the International Seabed Authority)
