The first part of the 24th annual session of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) will consist of a meeting of the ISA Council convening from 5-9 March 2018 in Kingston, Jamaica. As discussed the Earth Negotiations Bulletin summary of the 23rd session, this is the first time that the ISA annual session will be divided in two parts according to a revised meeting schedule that is expected to increase transparency and engender a mutually responsive dialogue between the ISA Legal and Technical Commission and the Council.

The main items to be discussed at the Council meeting in March are:

• the draft regulations on the exploitation of mineral resources in the deep seabed;
• the Legal and Technical Commission’s recommendations on the draft regulations, and
• stakeholders’ comments on the draft.

As discussed in our analysis of the 23rd session, the draft regulations are expected to find a balanced approach to the exploitation for the benefit of humankind and the protection of the marine environment, taking into account the role of the ISA, states and contractors.

The second part of the ISA 24th annual session, comprising another meeting of the Council and a meeting of the ISA Assembly, will be convened from 16-27 July 2017.