International Seabed Authority to Examine Draft Regulatory Mechanism for Deep Seabed Mining

The Council of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) will open on the 25 February 2019 for the first part of its 25th annual session in Kingston, Jamaica, with Member States set to continue their discussions around the draft exploitation regulations for commercial deep seabed mining, which will include proposals for the payment mechanism for mineral exploitation.

Policy discussions concerning key areas from the draft regulations will be the main focus of deliberations.

To that effect, the 37 members of the Council will review, amongst other issues: regional environmental management plans, the implementation of an inspection mechanism and the precautionary approach to activities in the international seabed area, and the process for the independent review of environmental plans and performance assessments.

Comprising two segments, the annual session will include the ISA Council from 25 February to 1 March. The second part of the 25th Session, the ISA Assembly will be held in July 2019.

For more information visit the 25th Session Portal.