International Seabed Authority Celebrates 30th Anniversary

Context:

The International Seabed Authority (ISA), an agency under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), recently celebrated its 30th anniversary.

Relevance:

GS II: International Relations

Dimensions of the Article:

1. International Seabed Authority (ISA)
2. India and the ISA

International Seabed Authority (ISA)

• Overview:
  • The ISA is an independent global organization formed under the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the 1994 Agreement for implementing Part XI of UNCLOS.
• Headquarters:
  • Located in Kingston, Jamaica.
• Membership:
  • Comprises 168 Member States, including India, along with the European Union.
• Jurisdiction:
  • Oversees approximately 54% of the world’s ocean areas.
• Core Responsibilities:
  • Regulation:
    • Supervises all exploration and exploitation activities related to deep-sea minerals.
  • Environmental Protection:
    • Ensures the safeguarding of the marine environment from adverse impacts of deep-seabed activities.
  • Scientific Research:
    • Promotes marine scientific studies and research.

India and the ISA

• Recent Developments:
  • On 18th January 2024, India submitted applications for exploration in the international seabed area of the Indian Ocean, targeting:
    • Polymetallic sulphides in the Indian Ocean Ridge (Carlsberg Ridge).
    • Cobalt-rich ferromanganese crusts on the Afanasy-Nikitin Seamount in the Central Indian Ocean.
• Current Contracts:
  • India holds two existing contracts for exploration in the Indian Ocean:
    • Polymetallic nodules and sulphides in the Central Indian Ocean Basin and Ridge.

-Source: The Hindu