The 30th session of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) continued its work aimed at balancing efforts to preserve deep-sea ecosystems against the push to extract the mineral resources that might support the clean energy transition. The ISA Council completed the second reading of the revised consolidated text on the draft regulations for the commercial exploitation of deep-sea minerals, paving the way for intersessional engagement.

Delegates picked up from where they left off during the first part of the Council’s 30th session in March 2025, when they considered regulations 1-55, completing the remainder (regulations 56-107).

Despite progress, views continue to diverge on many issues, and the text remains heavily bracketed, according to the Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB) summary report of the meeting. Friends of the President and working groups will continue discussions during the intersessional period ahead of the ISA’s next session in 2026. The ISA Secretariat will prepare a further revised consolidated text, which will serve as the basis for discussions.

Alongside the negotiations on the draft regulations, the Council also addressed:

• an equalization measure to ensure that the effective tax rate for deep-sea mining is similar to land-based mining, regardless of tax exemptions provided by sponsoring States;
• an inspection, compliance, and enforcement mechanism, particularly a compliance committee; and
• underwater cultural heritage (UCH), including tangible heritage, such as shipwrecks, artefacts, and human remains, and intangible, such as sacral and cultural values broadly associated with the marine environment.

Convening back-to-back with the Council, the ISA Assembly adopted a decision recommending that the Secretariat develop the concept of the common heritage fund as one of the possible ways to distribute the income from activities in the Area. Yet, for the third consecutive session, the Assembly was unable to agree on the need for a general ISA policy for protecting and preserving the marine environment.

While many delegates considered it imperative to finalize the regulations for commercial exploitation of deep-sea mineral resources, others argued that without stronger science, a general environmental policy, or a long-overdue periodic review of the operation of the international regime of the Area, the deep sea was at risk of irreversible harm, the ENB analysis of the meeting observes.

Among other issues, the Assembly also considered requests for observer status, including one submitted by a group of deep-sea contractors. Following informal consultations, the Assembly agreed that the contractors will be able to participate in the next Assembly session in their individual capacity, requesting the Secretariat to prepare draft guidelines on contractors’ participation.

The ISA Council convened for the second part of its 30th session from 7-18 July 2025, in Kingston, Jamaica. The Assembly took place from 21-25 July. [ENB Coverage of the Second Part of ISA’s 30th Annual Session]