Highlights and images for 31 July 2026

The final day of the 31st annual session of the Assembly of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) saw delegates engaging in informal discussions in the morning in an effort to reach consensus on various unresolved issues. Their efforts paid off, allowing the Assembly to conclude its deliberations on time and take several important decisions, including on intersessional work.

The ISA Assembly, among other things:

• decided to continue intersessional work with respect to potentially requesting an advisory opinion from the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) on the legal implications of deep-sea mining activities outside the ISA framework;
• took note of the annual report of ISA Secretary-General Leticia Carvalho;
• decided to continue intersessional work on a draft decision relating to ensuring adequate scientific understanding to support informed decision-making;
• approved requests for observer status by 11 civil society and academic organizations; and
• adopted a decision concerning interim arrangements in respect of requests for observer status submitted by contractors.

Thursday’s deliberations had revealed that consensus was distant regarding a potential request for an advisory opinion from ITLOS on unilateral mining. Members voiced both substantive and procedural concerns. The Assembly decided on intersessional work, facilitated by Malta, which will focus on collating Parties’ views and reflecting them in a compilation, without leading to recommendations or prejudging whether a request for an advisory opinion will be necessary. 

Following the conclusion of interventions on the annual work of the Secretariat, the Assembly took note of the report of Secretary-General Carvalho. Delegates also took note of the progress made in implementing the ISA Action Plan for marine scientific research in support of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development.

They requested the Secretariat continue its efforts to develop initiatives that advance research and mobilize knowledge and resources through partnerships.

The Republic of the Congo and Madagascar joined others in supporting a precautionary pause on deep-sea mining until the risks are fully understood and the necessary scientific knowledge is available.

Many delegates expressed disappointment that consensus could not be reached on a draft decision, proposed by Vanuatu, which aimed to identify priority scientific knowledge gaps and options for a transparent process through which the adequacy of the scientific evidence base may be considered. Vanuatu underscored the constructive engagement and the progress achieved, emphasizing that they will continue work intersessionally with a view to adopting a decision at the next session.

Following informal deliberations that lasted the entire week, delegates were able to agree on a decision on interim arrangements for requests for observer status submitted by contractors. These arrangements will allow the four contractors that submitted applications at the current session to sit at the public meetings of the 32nd session of the Assembly in their individual capacity. Delegates further agreed on intersessional work, facilitated by Samoa and Switzerland, with a view to producing a report including draft guidelines for the Assembly’s consideration at its next session. 

In concluding remarks, host country Jamaica highlighted the meeting’s spirit of collegiality, respect, and willingness to advance ISA’s work, and stressed that the Authority is not merely an administrative body but the custodian of humanity’s common heritage.

Secretary-General Carvalho thanked all participants for their active engagement and encouraged them to uphold the spirit of cooperation and mutual respect that has long defined the Authority’s endeavors.

Assembly President Oliver Whitehead (the Netherlands) thanked all delegates for “a productive session during which we adopted many positive decisions” and gaveled the meeting to a close at 17:29 pm.