Highlights and images for 18 July 2025

“The Law of the Sea Treaty recognises that the wealth of the oceans is part of the common heritage of humanity. Yet, without a regulatory authority or enforceable law, alarming threats to the oceans face us because of such practices as the dumping of toxic wastes, over-fishing or transnational crime like drug trafficking. The efforts to establish a workable legal order for the oceans must not fail.”

South Africa highlighted these words of Nelson Mandela on the observance of Nelson Mandela International Day, celebrated annually on his birthday, 18 July. 

These words were part of Nelson Mandela’s address at the opening of the 5th session of the Independent World Commission on the Oceans, held in Cape Town on 11 November 1997, and South Africa underscored its continued relevance to current discussions on deep-sea mining. 

Several delegates voiced their respect for Nelson Mandela’s legacy and wished South Africa and the international community a meaningful observance of Nelson Mandela International Day.

On the last day of the second part of the 30th session of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) Council, members met in multiple closed-door informal discussions in an attempt to finalize Council decisions on: 

• the reports of the Chair of the Legal and Technical Commission (LTC);
• the operationalization of the Economic Planning Commission; and
• a thematic approach to the continuation of the elaboration of rules, regulations, and procedures relating to resolve key outstanding issues that remain.

The extensive discussions ultimately bore fruit and the Council adopted two out of the three decisions, leaving only the LTC decision pending. Regarding the timeline, the Council agreed to take a thematic approach for ISA-31, based on the following themes: environmental matters; financial matters; regulatory, procedural and institutional matters; and governance matters.

The Council also requested the Secretariat to prepare a further revised consolidated text based on the discussions during ISA-30 and publish it to the ISA website ahead of ISA-31. Intersessional work will also be undertaken on the basis of the working groups and Friends of the President groups, ahead of ISA-31.

The Council also held discussions on the revised standardized procedure for the development, establishment, and review of regional environmental management plans (REMPs). 

Portugal supported by the Russian Federation, China, India, Canada, and others, proposed: first to include exploration activities among the types of activities and impacts to be considered in a scientific assessment; and second to ensure that a plan of work for a new type or category of mineral resource triggers a review of the relevant REMP.

The Council adopted the procedure as amended and the decision on the standardized procedure.

Due to unforeseen events, the Council meeting was suspended and will resume on Monday, 21 July to conclude the session.