From March 17-28, members and observers of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) gathered in Kingston, Jamaica to kick off the biennial 30th Session, starting with the first Council Meeting of 2025.
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Based in Jamaica with 169 member States, the ISA is an autonomous organization that has the dual mandate, from the United Nations to 1. “organize and control all mineral-resources-related activities in the Area for the benefit of humankind as a whole” and 2. ensure “the effective protection of the marine environment from harmful effects that may arise from deep-seabed-related activities” as the “common heritage of humankind.”
The ‘Area’ is defined as “the seabed and ocean floor and the subsoil thereof, beyond the limits of national jurisdiction.” This represents about 50% of the total area of the world’s ocean.
'The Area' — Graphic Courtesy of the International Seabed Authority
The ISA Council, the executive organ that gathered for this March meeting, consists of 36 member States tasked with the creation and enforcement of policies and regulations under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) for deep-sea mineral prospecting, exploration, and exploitation—overseeing contract approvals and setting environmental standards.
THE ORGANS OF THE ISA
The Organs of the ISA — Graphic Courtesy of the International Seabed Authority
For the fourth consecutive year, Sustainable Ocean Alliance returned to the ISA this March to continue our advocacy work on behalf of global youth standing against deep-sea mining, in collaboration with SeaLegacy.
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As members of the Deep Sea Conservation Coalition and leaders of the campaign against deep-sea mining, Sustainable Ocean Alliance is firm in our stance that:
Deep-sea mining is an existential threat to our ocean.
Youth are key stakeholders for ocean health as the inheritors of this planet and they must be included in pivotal discussions and decision-making processes regarding their future.
Advocating at the International Seabed Authority for a precautionary approach or moratorium on deep-sea mining is the most sensible way forward.
This session, we were proudly represented on the ground by Daniel Caceres and Eugénia Barroca—SOA Regional Representatives for Hispanomérica and Europe & Lusofonia, respectively—as well as our Global Policy Advisor, Shannon Cosentino-Roush.
Below, hear directly from Daniel and Eugenia about their firsthand accounts of the two-week ISA Meeting and what to expect next with the upcoming Council & Assembly Meetings come July 2025.
This was my eighth time participating in these negotiations, but each session feels more urgent than the last. The discussions held inside those walls are not just technical—they are deeply political and generational. They will define how humanity interacts with the last truly untouched frontier of our planet: the deep sea.
I was on the ground during Week 1 alongside my colleague Shannon. While Eugenia would later carry the torch in Week 2, we knew our job was clear: bring science, intergenerational equity, and precautionary principles to the forefront.
The ISA continues to deliberate over the “Mining Code,” a set of regulations that, if adopted, would allow commercial deep-sea mining to begin. But what stood out to me the most this week was not just the pace of the discussions—it was the glaring absence of scientific certainty in a process that could change the ocean forever.
Early in the week, I delivered a formal intervention on behalf of SOA. In it, I reminded delegates that:
“The seabed is not merely a mineral substrate awaiting extraction—it is an interconnected system, sustaining life in ways we still do not fully comprehend.”
I went on to ask some uncomfortable, but necessary, questions:
How do we define “acceptable harm” when the science is incomplete?
What mechanisms are in place to guarantee that we don’t impose irreversible damage on generations yet unborn?
I stressed that the precautionary principle must not be treated as a bureaucratic checkbox—it is a moral imperative. The ISA is not just writing rules. It is deciding whether ecosystems that took millions of years to form will be safeguarded… Or sacrificed.
Daniel Intervention — Photo Courtesy of Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB)
In a second intervention, I pushed for the right to a ‘clean, healthy, and sustainable environment’—a universal right recognized by the UN in 2022—to be embedded into ISA regulations:
“As young people, we will inherit the consequences of your decisions. Any plan of work, contract, or regulatory decision must not undermine the rights of future generations to a livable planet.”
Between formal sessions, Shannon and I moved through corridors, side events, and informal chats with delegations—tracking negotiations on key issues like environmental baselines, contractor liability, and rights of coastal states.
What we witnessed was a stark divide. Countries like Costa Rica and Chile repeatedly advocated for a precautionary pause, while pro-mining nations like China, Russia, and Nauru pushed to fast-track mining regulations without the scientific groundwork.
Outside of the Council chambers, I attended two powerful side events that shook my understanding of deep-sea processes. The first was on Dark Oxygen Production—the discovery that oxygen is mysteriously generated at the seafloor, challenging everything we thought we knew about ocean chemistry. The implications? We might disrupt systems before we even understand their full role and potential yet.
The second side event focused on midwater discharge—the practice of dumping mining waste into the ocean’s middle layers. New evidence shows these toxic plumes travel much farther than previously assumed—affecting species, oxygen zones, and even global fisheries.
Once again, the takeaway was clear: we know too little, and the risks are too great.
We also went to a side event organized by Impossible Metals, where private sector actors presented “sustainable” mining technology. But their claims remain untested at scale, and I couldn’t help but ask:
“Why are we even writing mining regulations when 96% of species we know about in the Clarion Clipperton Zone have only been discovered since 2008?”
Throughout the week, I engaged with countries from Asia, Africa, Europe, and Latin America—reminding them that mining the deep sea is not just a geopolitical issue. It’s a planetary one. It’s a moral one.
As I left Kingston, I couldn’t shake one final thought: if we move forward without the science, without the safeguards, and without a full understanding of the deep sea’s role in climate, food systems, and biodiversity, then we are not just gambling with nature—we are writing a legacy of irreversible harm.
We still have a choice.
No mining without science.
No exploitation without consent.
No decisions without youth at the table.
And until that choice is made wisely, we will continue to defend the deep.
Representing Sustainable Ocean Alliance and SeaLegacy, I continued the work begun by my colleagues in Week 1: tracking negotiations in real time, sharing updates, recording daily video recaps, and meeting with key government delegations—including the Philippines, Portugal, South Africa, Greece, and the UK—to reinforce youth perspectives and push for precautionary, science-based ocean governance.
A major highlight of the week came with the reinstatement of Regulation 44 Ter, a critical clause that ensures binding environmental goals remain in place until a General Environmental Policy is adopted. Backed by 20 countries—including Chile, Portugal, Brazil, and the UK—this win marked a strong stance for precaution, the protection of coastal communities, and alignment with international agreements like the High Seas Treaty (BBNJ).
Meanwhile, Council members also debated the roles of and distinction between ‘test’ mining and ‘pilot’ mining. Member States called for clarity on their definitions, environmental safeguards, and oversight—underscoring the significant regulatory and knowledge gaps that must be resolved before exploitation is even considered.
Week 2 took a dramatic turn on Thursday when The Metals Company (TMC) announced its intent to apply for a commercial seabed mining license under a U.S. framework—sidestepping the ISA process entirely and triggering widespread concern over the undermining of multilateralism.
On Friday, the ISA’s new Secretary-General Letícia Carvalho delivered a firm statement reaffirming that the seabed is the common heritage of humankind and that only the ISA has the authority to govern mining in the ‘Area’. Her words were met with applause and support from 39 countries, which publicly defended UNCLOS, denounced unilateral corporate action, and called for deep-sea mining to proceed only under robust, science-based regulations.
At this pivotal moment, I delivered a key intervention on behalf of SOA as well as present and future generations, urging states to defend multilateralism, science, and intergenerational equity:
“The decisions made today and in the coming years will heavily impact present and future generations… On behalf of the youth, we reaffirm the importance of multilateralism in shaping the future of our generations and the common heritage of humankind, urging countries to continue supporting this process over corporate interests.”
Eugenia Intervention — Photo Courtesy of Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB)
This intervention not only reflected SOA’s values but also the growing recognition of youth voices at the ISA.
I also joined important side events, including WWF’s ocean governance event, the SMARTEX reception revealing mining scars that persist even after 44 years, and the Observers’ Lunch with the Secretary-General, where I emphasized the importance of formal youth inclusion in decision-making processes and working groups at the ISA.
Week 2 ended with both urgency and solidarity.
While companies may attempt to pressure the system, the global community—led by many governments and civil society—is holding firm.
As SOA continues to #DefendTheDeep, we will keep pushing for decisions that are rooted in science, equity, and a long-term vision for ocean protection. The future of the deep sea is still being written—let’s make sure it’s one of protection, not exploitation.
Up next, the ISA will reconvene in July 2025 for the 30th Session Council & Assembly meetings.
In addition to continuing negotiations around draft regulations and the mining code, the ISA will potentially face an entirely new set of challenges come July, with the Metals Company's intent to submit its exploitation application to the ISA by the end of June.
This will be unprecedented territory and will likely expose many unanswered questions: What will be done when there is an actual application in front of ISA decision-makers? What will the review process be like, will it be allowed, and will it fast-track regulations? Or will countries stand strong to ensure the official process is followed in the face of pressure?
Sustainable Ocean Alliance and SeaLegacy will be on the ground to continue our advocacy efforts on behalf of young people across the globe, demonstrating our commitment to continue showing up to defend the deep against the threat of commercial deep-sea mining.
Until then, SOA and our allies, partners, and global community of ocean advocates will continue our collective work to campaign against deep-sea mining around the world. Together, our coalition efforts have:
Gathered 321,000+ signatures of concerned global citizens to stop deep-sea mining.
Recruited 32 champion countries and 64 companies (including BMW, Volkswagen, Apple, Google) calling for a moratorium, precautionary measures, or ban on deep-sea mining in international waters.
It is clear that positive changes are occurring—but the fight is far from over yet. Now more than ever, we must stay strong, speak out with purpose, lift each other up, and stand unwavering in our commitment to science and justice.
Eager to be a part of the solution? Here is how you can join SOA in the fight against deep-sea mining:
JOIN THE ALLIANCE
Spread the word and add your voice to SOA's calls to #DefendTheDeep across social media by resharing and following our social media posts on LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok, and Threads.
Download SOA's Deep-Sea Mining Social Media Toolkit with graphics, links, and captions (available in English, Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, German, and Filipino).
PARTICIPATE IN THE DEEP SEA ACADEMY
Take SOA's Deep Sea Academy online ocean advocacy training course led by world-class experts and those on the frontlines standing against deep-sea mining.
SIGN PETITIONS
Sign SOA’s Petition Against Deep-Sea Mining, in partnership with The Oxygen Project, Only One, and Deep Sea Conservation Coalition.
Sign the Indigenous-Led Petition Against Deep-Sea Mining with Blue Climate Initiative.
Sign these regional petitions for the U.S., Norway, Colombia, and Argentina.
CONTACT YOUR REPRESENTATIVES
Encourage your country to oppose deep-sea mining by contacting your official representative here.