ISA chief urges Fiji and Pacific nations to shape mining code

The head of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) has called on Fiji and Pacific nations to help shape a responsible deep-sea mining code, pledging the organisation will remain a neutral, credible, transparent and science-based institution serving all humanity.

ISA Secretary-General Leticia Carvalho made the call during a traditional welcome ceremony hosted by the Fiji Government at the Grand Pacific Hotel in Suva this morning.

“I wish to personally invite Fiji and indeed all constructive and positive partners of the Authority in the Pacific region to continue working closely with us in bringing the development of the mining code to a careful and responsible conclusion,” Ms Carvalho said.

The ISA is the United Nations body responsible for regulating mineral-related activities in international seabed areas — the ocean floor beyond national jurisdictions.

Its members are currently debating rules that would govern deep-sea mining, an industry that has drawn strong opposition from Pacific leaders concerned about potential damage to marine ecosystems.

Ms Carvalho acknowledged Fiji’s longstanding contribution to international ocean law, including through the late Ambassador Satya Nandan and Ambassador Peter Thompson, the United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for the Ocean.

Ms Carvalho said Pacific perspectives were essential to ensuring deep-sea governance was carried out “responsibly, inclusively and in accordance with international law”.

She is in Suva this week for the Pacific Small Island Developing States Regional Workshop on Deep-Sea-Bed Sustainable Blue Growth Initiative, which begins today.

The workshop aims to strengthen Pacific nations’ legal, technical and scientific understanding of deep-sea activities and improve governance capacity across the region.