African Group

Highlights for Monday, 26 August 2019 Horse eye jacks from Cuba, photo by Marcelo Halpern The third session of the Intergovernmental Conference (IGC) on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biodiversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) met throughout the day on Monday, 26 August 2019, in informal working groups on capacity building and the transfer of marine technology (CB&TT), and on cross-cutting issues. Delegates also met in two closed-door “informal-informals,” to discuss aspects related to environmental impact assessments (EIAs), and area-based management tools (ABMTs), including marine protected areas (MPAs).For the better part of the day, they considered types of CB&TT, whether and where to include a potential list of these activities in the new High Seas agreement, as well as matters related to monitoring and review, definitions, and the list over types of CB&TT in the annex. They also considered, as part of CB&TT, the clearing-house mechanism, discussing the types and functions of such a mechanism. Highlights of the day included, among others: Informal-informals on EIAs, which focused on matters regarding monitoring, reporting, and review; Informal-informals on ABMTs, including MPAs, focusing on the objectives of ABMTs as well as aspects related to monitoring and review;  Discussions in the informal working group on CB&TT, on aspects of a clearing-house mechanism, specifically the types and modalities of such a mechanism; and Discussions in the informal working group on cross-cutting issues, addressing other aspects of the clearing-house mechanism. In the corridors, one exasperated developing country delegate was adamant about the need for “hard rules to guide capacity building and the transfer of marine technology” for the effective implementation of the new High Seas treaty, adding that CB&TT needs to be understood as being driven by developing countries. Commenting on the closed-door sessions, another delegate opined that “the format and time constraints prevent us from addressing crucial linkages,” still remaining optimistic that “we will get there.”For more details on the day’s negotiations and to hear what delegates said in the corridors, see our daily Earth Negotiations Bulletin. IISD Reporting Services, through its ENB Meeting Coverage, has provided daily web coverage, daily reports, and a summary and analysis report from BBNJ IGC-3. The summary and analysis report is now available in HTML and PDF. Photos by IISD/ENB | Francis Dejon For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page. Informal Working Group Olai Uludong, Palau, Facilitator of the informal working group on CB&TT L-R: Alice Hicuburundi, Jessica Howley, and Lika Diouf, UN Division of Ocean Affairs and Law of the Sea (UNDOALOS) Kimberly Louis, Saint Lucia, on behalf of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM ) Ana Elizabeth Villaita Vizcorra, El Salvador, on behalf of the Like-Minded Latin American Countries Sunan Rustam, Indonesia Terje Lobach, Norway Tetsuya Yoshimoto, Japan Oleg Rykov, Russian Federation Evan Bloom, US Marco D'Alessandro, Switzerland Amanda Richards, New Zealand Fuad Bateh, Palestine, on behalf of the G-77/China L-R: Mehdi Remaoun, Algeria, in conversation with Mohamed Lamine Sidibé, Guinea Generoso Calonge, the Philippines Sujin Seo, Republic of Korea Harriet Harden-Davies, Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC-UNESCO) Fakasoa Tealei, Tuvalu, on behalf of the Pacific Small Island Developing States (P-SIDS) Hiroko Muraki Gottlieb, International Council of Environmental Law Blaise Kuemlangan, Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) Yang Liu, China Mehdi Remaoun, Algeria, on behalf of the African Group Katie Hamilton, Australia Carl Grainger, EU IGC President Rena Lee, Singapore, and Facilitator of the informal working group on Cross-Cutting Issues Olai Uludong, Palau, Facilitator of the informal working group on CB&TT L-R: Olai Uludong, Palau, Facilitator of the informal working group on CB&TT, Joan Yang, Nauru; and Gabriele Goettsche-Wanli, Director, UNDOALOS Delegates from Belize in consultation L-R: Gemma Andreone, Italy, and Eva Vázquez, Spain IGC President Rena Lee, Singapore, with UNDOALOS Secretariat staff and UNDOALOS Fellows IGC President Rena Lee, Singapore, with delegates from Nigeria Closed-door informal-informals

Highlights for Wednesday, 21 August 2019 Spotted sea slug from the Bahamas. Photo by Marcelo Halpern The third session of the Intergovernmental Conference (IGC) on an international legally binding instrument (ILBI) under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ) convened in New York on Wednesday, with delegates meeting in an open informal working group on area-based management tools (ABMTs), including marine protected areas (MPAs). They also met in two closed-door “informal-informals,” to discuss certain aspects of environmental impact assessments (EIAs), and marine genetic resources (MGRs). During the informal working group on ABMTs, delegates discussed the identification of areas, including those that may require protection. Highlights of the day include: Informal-informals on EIAs, considering the relationship between the future High Seas agreement and EIA processes under other instruments, and the role of states in decision-making related to EIA activities; Informal-informals on access to MGRs of areas beyond national jurisdiction, including discussions on potentially setting parameters for access to these resources; and Discussions in plenary on the identification of areas requiring protection, including a list of criteria for the establishment or designation of ABMTs, and the basis on which ABMTs are identified, with references to best available science, an ecosystem approach, and traditional knowledge. In the morning, Facilitator Alice Revell (New Zealand) summarized Tuesday’s informal-informal discussion on international cooperation and coordination, and decision making. She highlighted that delegates had discussed ideas related to definitions of ABMTs, including MPAs, reflecting the general understanding that ABMTs are a broader concept that includes MPAs. She highlighted divergent views on the definition of MPAs, including whether to refer to them as tools to achieve long-term biodiversity conservation and sustainable use. In the corridors, strong calls were made to keep an eye on the purpose of the global treaty, with one delegate “highlighting, underlining, and underscoring the need for swift progress,” adding that “millions of species are at risk and that should spur us to better use the time we have here.” For more details on the day’s negotiations and to hear what delegates said in the corridors, see our daily Earth Negotiations Bulletin. IISD Reporting Services, through its ENB Meeting Coverage, has provided daily web coverage, daily reports, and a summary and analysis report from BBNJ IGC-3. The summary and analysis report is now available in HTML and PDF. Photos by IISD/ENB | Francis Dejon For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page. Informal Working Group Alice Revell, New Zealand, Facilitator of the informal working group on ABMTs, including MPAs IGC President Rena Lee, Singapore L-R: Miguel de Serpa Soares, Secretary-General of the IGC, Under-Secretary-General for Legal Affairs and UN Legal Counsel; Alice Revell, New Zealand, Facilitator of the informal working group on ABMTs; Gabriele Goettsche-Wanli, Director, UN Division of Ocean Affairs and Law of the Sea (UNDOALOS); Valentina Germani, UNDOALOS; Stephanie Ierino, UNDOALOS; and Marco Boccia, UNDOALOS Huang Hao, China Mehdi Remaoun, Algeria, on behalf of the African Group Coumba Gaye, Senegal Desirée Eve Maaño, the Philippines Florian Botto, Monaco Sibylle Vermont, Switzerland Essam Yassin Mohammed, Eritrea Janine Coye-Felson, Belize Memet Yakut, Turkey Evan Bloom, US L-R: Andréanne Goyette and Alain Tellier, Canada, in consultation Teburoro Tito, Kiribati Kjell Kristian Egge, Norway Jessica Battle, WWF Alex Macdonald, New Zealand Joseph Appiott, Convention on Biological Diversity Ramon van Barneveld, EU Tetsuya Yoshimoto, Japan Sergey Leonidchenko, Russian Federation Martin Zvachula, Federated States of Micronesia Lionel Yee, Singapore IGC-3 participants from UN agencies, intergovernmental, and non governmental organizations Photo exhibit promoting Turkish Seas Side Event: The Case of Anthropogenic Underwater Noise presented by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN / General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (FAO/GFCM) and OceanCare Side event participants L-R: Nicola Ferri, FAO/GFCM; Kristina Gjerde, IUCN; Fabienne McLellan, OceanCare; and Nicolas Entrup, OceanCare

Highlights for Friday, 19 July 2019 Informal consultations during the morning session On Friday, the Council of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) finalized its deliberations, addressing all pending agenda items, including: the report on matters relating to the Enterprise; issues relating to the election of members of the Legal and Technical Commission (LTC), and the LTC Chair report; and the pattern of meetings for the Council and LTC for 2020.Highlights of the day included: a lengthy discussion on a draft decision submitted by the African Group and GRULAC aiming to address equitable geographical representation as well as necessary expertise in the election of LTC members; exchange of opinions on the pros and cons of using remote simultaneous interpretation services for the Assembly and the Council in 2020; agreement on a decision relating to the reports of the LTC Chair, including the intention to ensure the thorough and timely development of necessary standards and regulations; and the general cordial atmosphere among the Council members, despite disagreements, which allows cautious optimism regarding the next steps. Two side events took place at lunchtime: one organized by the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC), which addressed an environmental impact assessment study performed by JAMSTEC in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone as well as the development of technology to evaluate plume dispersion; and the other hosted by Global Sea Mineral Resources offering an update of its project.For more details on the day’s events and to hear what delegates said in the breezeways, see our daily Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB). IISD Reporting Services, through its ENB Meeting Coverage, provided daily web coverage and daily reports from the 2nd Part of ISA-25. In addition, IISD Reporting Services, has published a summary and analysis from the meeting, which is now available in HTML and PDF. Photos by IISD/ENB | Diego Noguera For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page A view of the Council from the dais perspective Wini Broadbelt, the Netherlands Pavel Kavina, Czech Republic Ernesto Malda and Anais Vivanco, Mexico Patrik Schotte, Belgium Carlos Alberto Michaelsen den Hartog, Brazil Ingo Narberhaus, Germany, in discussions with Wini Broadbelt, the Netherlands Pauline Mcharo, Kenya Luke Tang, Singapore Lee Hyun Seung, Republic of Korea, consulting with Clement Yow Mulalaps, Federated States of Micronesia Mehdi Remaoun, Algeria, conferring with Khurshed Alam, Bangladesh Liu Feng and Li Lin Lin, China Luke Roughton, New Zealand, and Gina Guillén Grillo, Costa Rica Mariusz Orion Jędrysek and Andrzej Przybycin, Poland Delegates from Germany and the UK discussing during a break. L-R: Patrik Schotte, Belgium; Nicole Lyas, Australia; and Kenneth Wong, Canada L-R: Petero Okotai, Cook Islands; Alison Swaddling, the Commonwealth Secretariat; and Josh Mitchell, Cook Islands L-R: Alexandre Rodríguez, Spain; Megan Jungwiwattanaporn, The Pew Charitable Trusts; Pippa Howard and Lisa Levin, Deep Sea Conservation Coalition (DSCC) L-R: Ernesto Malda and Anais Vivanco, Mexico, and Wang Rong, Singapore L-R: Sarah Jones, UK; Amber Cobley, ISA Secretariat; Adrian Glover, UK; Malcolm Clark, New Zealand; Samantha Smith, Global Sea Mineral Resources (GSR); and Becky Hitchin, UK The Chinese delegation discusses the latest ENB report with Wang Yan (right), ENB Eleanor Petch and Margaret Purdasy, UK Hannah Lily, the Commonwealth, and Josh Mitchell, Cook Islands L-R: John Parianos, Tonga Offshore Mining Limited (TOML); Jennifer Warren, Lockheed Martin Corporation; and Harald Brekke, Norway L-R: Cristóbal Hernández, Gloria Ramos, Francisco Javier Bernales, Manuel José Fernández, and Roberto Álvarez, Chile The delegation from the Netherlands Participants between sessions

Highlights for Wednesday, 17 July 2019 The ISA Council meets in Kingston for its third day On Wednesday morning, the Council of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) continued its deliberations on the draft regulations for exploitation of mineral resources in the Area, focusing on the protection and preservation of the marine environment as well as on rights and obligations of the contractors. In the afternoon, the Council heard the reports of the Chairs of the Legal and Technical Commission (LTC) and the Finance Committee. Highlights of the day included the: impressive array of ideas tabled on the part of the draft exploitation regulations referring to the protection and preservation of the marine environment; tug of war between speed and quality, reflecting the need for timely adoption of the Mining Code and the necessity to ensure that its provisions serve all stakeholders; discussion on cost-saving measures, including remote interpretation services; and appropriate follow-up for contractors that have not complied with recommendations. At lunchtime, a side event was organized by India under the title “Near four decades of India’s role in deep-sea exploration and mining: efforts in the Indian Ocean.” During the afternoon, a side event organized by the Natural History Museum of the UK and the Deep-Sea Biology Society, in collaboration with the ISA Secretariat focused on empowering the next generation of deep-sea researches. For more details on the day’s events and to hear what delegates said in the breezeways, see our daily Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB). IISD Reporting Services, through its ENB Meeting Coverage, provided daily web coverage and daily reports from the 2nd Part of ISA-25. In addition, IISD Reporting Services, has published a summary and analysis from the meeting, which is now available in HTML and PDF. Photos by IISD/ENB | Diego Noguera For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page Pippa Howard, Deep Sea Conservation Coalition Gina Guillén Grillo, Costa Rica Robert Milbourne, Mining Standards International Mehdi Remaoun, Algeria, on behalf of the African Group Ingo Narberhaus and Urs Daniel Engels, Germany L-R: Alden Denny, Greg O’Brien, and Laura Strickler, US Joseph Appiott, Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) Secretariat Esther Salamanca Aguado, Spain Roberto Álvarez and Francisco Javier Bernales Errázuriz, Chile Gou Haibo, China Andrzej Przybycin, Chair of the Finance Committee Young Lee and Lee Hyun Seung, Republic of Korea Tetsuya Yoshimoto, Japan Carlos Alberto Michaelsen den Hartog, Brazil Kathy-Ann Brown, Jamaica Eden Charles, Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the ISA for the Enterprise Tevita Suka Mangisi, Tonga Patricio Ureña Palacio, Argentina Gina Guillén Grillo, Costa Rica, discusses with Francisco Javier Bernales Errázuriz, Chile L-R: John Fintakpa Lamega and Franck Kokou Kpayedo, Togo; Tidiani Couma, Monaco; and Didier Ortolland, France Gulardi Nurbintoro, Indonesia, and Khurshed Alam, Bangladesh L-R: Patrik Schotte, Belgium; Kris Van Nijen, Global Sea Mineral Resources; and Steven Vandenborre, Belgium L-R: Carsten Rühlemann, Germany; Gesa Seeger, Die Zeit; and Christian Reichert, Germany Delegates reading the latest ENB before Wednesday’s proceedings L-R: Luke Roughton, Sarah Renouf, and Malcolm Clark, New Zealand; and Nyan Lin Aung, Myanamar Tasha Goldberg, ENB, and Gina Guillén Grillo, Costa Rica The Chinese delegation at the 2nd Part of ISA-25

Highlights for Monday, 15 July 2019 Second Part of ISA-25 opens at ISA Headquarters in Kingston On Monday, the Council of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) opened for the second part of the 25th annual session in Kingston, Jamaica. Throughout the day, the Council addressed organizational matters; discussed national legislation with respect to activities in the Area; and heard the report on the implementation of the 2018 Council Decision relating to the summary report of the Legal and Technical Commission (LTC) Chair. The Council also started its consideration of components of the draft regulations for exploitation of mineral resources in the Area, focusing on the financial model and the outcomes of the relevant Working Group, held prior to the Council’s opening.Highlights of the day include the: election of Erasmo Alonso Lara Cabrera (Mexico) to replace Alonso Francisco Martinez Ruiz (Mexico) on the LTC until 2021; approval of an application for a plan of work for exploration of polymetallic nodules by the Beijing Pioneer Hi-Tech Development Corporation, sponsored by China, in the western Pacific Ocean; announcement of several workshops planned to facilitate the development and review of regional environmental management plans; and discussion on the outcomes of the second meeting of the Working Group’s on the financial model, including options for the payment mechanism and two related submissions by the African Group. Two side events took place during the day: one organized by the Authority on coherent, inter-disciplinary, and adaptive approaches for the development of regional environmental management plans (REMPs) in the Area; and the other organized by the Commonwealth Secretariat on perspectives on liability rules and procedures for harm arising from activities in the Area. For more details on the day’s events and to hear what delegates said in the breezeways, see our daily Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB). IISD Reporting Services, through its ENB Meeting Coverage, provided daily web coverage and daily reports from the 2nd Part of ISA-25. In addition, IISD Reporting Services, has published a summary and analysis from the meeting, which is now available in HTML and PDF. Photos by IISD/ENB | Diego Noguera For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page Lumka Yengeni, South Africa, Council President for the 25th Session Michael Lodge, ISA Secretary-General (right), and Alfonso Ascencio-Herrera, ISA Legal Counsel and Deputy to the Secretary-General Bernd von Münchow-Pohl and Urs Daniel Engels, Germany Conn Nugent, The Pew Charitable Trusts Guy Sevrin and Patrik Schotte, Belgium Kathy Ann Brown, Jamaica Gina Guillén Grillo, Costa Rica, and Félix García, Dominican Republic Duncan Currie, Deep Sea Conservation Coalition (DSCC) Marzia Rovere, Daniele Bosio, and Marcello Iocca, Italy Gavin Watson, United Kingdom (UK) Gou Haibo, China Russell Howorth and Josefa Caniogo, Fiji Clement Yow Mulalap, Federated States of Micronesia Mehdi Remaoun, Algeria, on behalf of the African Group Francisco Javier Bernales Errázuriz and Roberto Álvarez, Chile Eden Charles, Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the ISA for the Enterprise, and Katie Elles, ISA Secretariat Tomasz Abramowski, Interoceanmetal Joint Organization Open-ended Working Group Chair Olav Myklebust and Andreas Motzfeldt Kravik, Norway Delegates from the Russian Federation consult before the start of the morning session Juan José González Mijares, Mexico, and Michael Lodge, ISA Secretary-General Marie Bourrel-McKinnon, ISA Secretariat, and Carlos Alberto Michaelsen den Hartog, Brazil Open-ended Working Group Chair Olav Myklebust, Harald Brekke and Andreas Motzfeldt Kravik, Norway Delegates during informal discussions Ingo Narberhaus, Germany, and Patrik Schotte, Belgium Nicole Lyas and Emily Johnson, Australia L-R: Cadinia Funganitao, ‘Elisiva ‘Akauola, and ‘Ilaisaane Vea, Tonga The UK delegation shares a laugh at the end of the morning session