September highlights

 Governance

Dates of 26^th Session of Council and Assembly announced

Following communications held with the President of the Assembly and the President of the Council of ISA for the 26^th session, the ISA Secretariat informed all Members and Observers of ISA on 17 September of the new schedule for the meetings of the 26^th session of the Council and the Assembly. The meetings will take place in person at the Jamaica Conference Center in Kingston as follows:

• Meetings of the ISA Council (Part II): 6-10 December 2021
• Meetings of the ISA Assembly: 13-15 December 2021

The Honorable Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Tonga commends ISA, UNDESA and NORAD for the implementation of the Abyssal Initiative project in his address to the 76th session of the UNGA

The Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Tonga, the Honourable Dr. Pōhiva Tuʻiʻonetoa, commended the work undertaken under the Abyssal Initiative for Blue Growth implemented by ISA and UNDESA with the support of NORAD, and welcomed the results of the workshop hosted in July 2021 by the Cook Islands. Mr. Tuʻiʻonetoa expressed Tonga's eagerness to host the final workshop of the initiative in Tonga soon. The Abyssal Initiative is designed to strengthen the capacities of the Pacific-SIDS sponsoring activities in the Area with a view to create the enabling conditions for them to fully comply with their national and international obligations as seabed activities progress and that they support their socio-economic aspirations.

IGF and ISA successfully co-host two webinars on deep-sea mining

The Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals and Sustainable Development (IGF) and ISA co-hosted two webinars seeking to provide government representatives members of IGF with the latest expert information about deep-sea mining, specifically pertaining to mineral demand, regulatory frameworks and potential environmental impacts. The first webinar on Demand and Regulatory Framework for Deep-Sea Minerals took place on 22 September and the second on Addressing Potential Environmental Impacts of Deep-Seabed Mining took place on 29 September. 

 Exploration of the area

Nauru to launch stakeholder consultation on Environmental Impact Statement on NORI prototype nodule collector test

The Government of the Republic of Nauru will be conducting a stakeholder consultation on the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) developed by Nauru Ocean Resources Inc. (NORI) to conduct technical trials of a prototype nodule collector in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone in the Pacific Ocean in 2022. As the sponsoring State to NORI for its exploration contract for polymetallic nodules with ISA, Nauru will facilitate the consultation and allow interested stakeholders to discuss, review and comment on the EIS. The consultation will be open from 5 October to 19 November 2021.

 Marine scientific research

ISA to host a workshop on Enhancing Image-Based biodiversity Assessments to Advance Deep-Sea Taxonomy on 12-14 October 2021

ISA, in collaboration with the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries of the Republic of Korea and the National Marine Biodiversity Institute of Korea, will convene an online workshop on Enhancing Image-based Biodiversity Assessments to Advance Deep-Sea Taxonomy  on 12-14 October 2021. The workshop aims to identify technical means and key elements for a standardized model necessary to facilitate effective sharing and use of image data within the context of ISA, with a view to enhancing deep-sea species identification and quantification, as well as increasing capacity and literacy in deep-sea taxonomy.

First webinar in new ISA Marine Scientific Research Information Series for Africa raises awareness of deep-sea mineral resources and technologies of African Members States

On 16 September, ISA hosted the first webinar of a new series called ISA Marine Scientific Research Information Series for Africa. The webinar series was created specifically for ISA African Member States and other stakeholders in the region and seeks to strengthen their capacity to conduct research in the Area, a need identified by them during a workshop organized by ISA in February 2020. Over 40 participants from 17 African countries, including government representatives, diplomats, researchers, mining experts and former ISA trainees, attended the meeting. This first edition of the webinar series focused on topics related to deep-sea mineral resources assessment and mining technologies. 

 Capacity development & training

ISA Legal and Technical Commission announces the selection of candidates to benefit from CMC training opportunities

On 13 September 2021, the Legal and Technical Commission of ISA confirmed the selection of candidates for four online training opportunities provided by China Minmetals Corporation (CMC) in accordance with its obligations under its exploration contract for polymetallic nodules with ISA. The training will be conducted from September to December 2021.

Application deadline extended until 8 October for 14 online training opportunities on exploration for polymetallic nodules and polymetallic sulphides with COMRA

Deadline for nominations extended for nine online training opportunities with the Ministry of Earth Sciences of the Government of India

Opportunities

Chief, Compliance Assurance and Regulatory Management - P5 

Communications Unit Internship 

Publications