[News Spot] International Seabed Authority Delays Approval of Deep-Sea Mining

The International Seabed Authority (ISA) is a United Nations (UN) affiliated international organization that oversees the development and exploration of deep-sea mineral resources in the high seas, which are considered the common heritage of mankind, with the goal of preventing marine environmental destruction.

Established in 1994 under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, its headquarters are located in Kingston, Jamaica, and it has 168 member states that are parties to the Convention. The ISA is composed of the Assembly, Council, Legal and Technical Commission, Finance Committee, and Secretariat, and is led by Secretary-General Michael Lodge from the United Kingdom.

Conceptual diagram of deep-sea mining system.
[Photo by Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries]

South Korea joined the ISA as a member state in January 1996, established a permanent mission in 2009, and advanced to a Group B council member. In August 2022, at the 27th ISA Assembly, South Korea was elected as a council member for the fifth consecutive time.

The ISA carries out duties such as adopting various rules, regulations, and procedures related to deep-sea activities, supervising the compliance of registered pioneer investors, monitoring and overseeing deep-sea activities, and reviewing and approving exploration and development plans.

According to major foreign media on the 31st (local time), the ISA agreed to establish a legal framework for deep-sea mining by 2024 through the Council meeting (36 countries) held from the 10th to the 21st and the Assembly of member states (168 countries including the European Union) held from the 24th to the 28th.

Within the ISA, it is known that opinions among member states regarding deep-sea development are sharply divided. Some countries, including China, have taken an active stance on deep-sea mineral mining, while France and Germany have opposed deep-sea mining, citing concerns that it could destroy habitats and species important to the ecosystem.

At this Assembly, the decision on regulations for deep-sea mineral mining outside the jurisdiction of any specific country was postponed until after next year. The ISA stated in a press release, "The Council has established a roadmap to continue discussions to create mining regulations by the meeting scheduled for next year." Although it tentatively set a goal to adopt guidelines in 2025, it did not impose a binding deadline.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.