International Seabed Authority (ISA) Secretary-General Michael W. Lodge has commended Rear Admiral (Retd) Md. Khurshed Alam, President of the council for the 26th session, for his “wisdom, patience and determined leadership.

Secretary-General Lodge said Khurshed Alam's leadership enabled ISA to “overcome numerous challenges” to keep the essential business of the council going by using the silence procedure.

He noted “the overwhelming support to the timely resumption of in-person meetings given by the Council members” and welcomed all members and observers back to the ISA headquarters at Kingston, Jamaica.

The 26th Session of the Council, ISA concluded on Friday under the Presidentship of Khurshed Alam, Secretary (Maritime Affairs Unit), Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

All 36 Member States of the Council attended the session either in-person or virtually. Among them, 25 Member States attended the session in-person.

The Council meeting will be followed by the meeting of the Assembly from December 13-15. Khurshed Alam will make a statement at the Assembly meeting as the President of Council on its work.

In 26th session, the Council approved applications for extensions of contracts in accordance with the procedures and criteria for the extension of an approved plan of work for exploration.

The Council also approved report of the Finance Committee on the issue of the equitable sharing of benefits and report of the Special Representative for the Enterprise.

It approved a draft Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) and International Seabed Authority (ISA).

The report of the Secretary General on the status of national legislation related to seabed mining and related matters were also approved by the Council.

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Roadmap for drafting regulations for exploitation of mineral resources in the Area was much discussed in the session, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The Council decided to complete the drafting of regulations for exploitation of mineral resources in the Area by June 2023 by establishing informal working groups.

It adopted decision on the extension of seven exploration contracts for polymetallic nodules in the Area held respectively by the Interoceanmetal Joint Organization, JSC Yuzhmorgeologiya (the Russian Federation), the Government of Korea, DORD (Japan), COMRA (China), Ifremer (France) and BGR (Germany) for five years.

The Council also adopted decision on election of Ramesh Sethuraman (India) to fill the vacant seat on the LTC for the remaining part of its term until 31 December 2022 due to the passing away of Milind P. Wakdikar.

The Chair of the Legal and Technical Commission presented the report on the work of the Commission.

The Member States took note of the report and provided their suggestions and guidelines especially on measures to preserve marine biodiversity.

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The Secretary General presented report on the implementation of the strategic plan and high-level action plan of the ISA for the period of 2029-2023.

The next Session of the Council of ISA will be held on 21 March-01 April 2022.