CIVICUS discusses the role of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) and the implications of the agency’s new leadership with Juressa Lee, Deep-Sea Mining Campaigner at Greenpeace Aotearoa, New Zealand’s national office of the global environmental organisation Greenpeace.

The ISA’s incoming Secretary-General, Brazilian oceanographer Leticia Carvalho, will be the first woman, oceanographer and Latin American person to lead the international organisation, which is responsible for ensuring that the marine environment is protected from the harmful effects of deep-sea mining activities. Carvalho has vowed to increase transparency and restore confidence in an agency that has been accused of mismanagement and siding with mining companies. The ISA is about to make a crucial decision on its first seabed mining licence, and civil society hopes it will apply stricter environmental standards under its new leadership.

What’s the role of the ISA?

The ISA is an autonomous international organisation established under the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the 1994 Agreement relating to the Implementation of Part XI of the UNCLOS. It regulates the exploration and exploitation of deep-sea minerals in ‘the Area’ – the seabed and subsoil beyond national jurisdiction, specifically beyond the outer limits of the continental shelf. According to UNCLOS, the Area comprises around half of the planet’s seabed.

The ISA is meant to ensure that activities in this vast and largely unexplored region are carried out in a responsible and sustainable manner, balancing the interests of all member states while protecting the marine environment. The agency is meant to set regulations, issue licences and monitor exploration and mining activities to prevent environmental degradation and promote equitable benefits from extracted resources. The ISA says its governance framework aims to promote scientific research, ensure equitable economic benefits and maintain the ecological balance of the deep-sea environment.

What criticisms has the ISA faced and how might these change with its new leadership?

The ISA has faced some criticism under its current Secretary-General, Michael Lodge. He’s been accused of overstepping his role and being an industry advocate rather than a neutral regulator. Concerns about overspending and mismanagement of ISA funds have also been discussed at length at recent ISA Council meetings. All of this comes at a time when deep-sea mining is under intense scrutiny for its environmental and social impacts, particularly on Indigenous cultural heritage.

With the appointment of Leticia Carvalho as the new Secretary-General, there is hope for a change in the ISA’s approach. The view from Greenpeace and civil society is that it’s essential the new Secretary-General puts the health of the oceans at the heart of the ISA.

There is a growing wave of resistance to deep-sea mining around the world, with five nations joining the call for a moratorium at the last ISA session in July. Indigenous peoples, including those here in Pacific, want to see the new Secretary-General engage with governments to change the ISA’s course to serve the public interest, as it has been driven by the narrow corporate interests of the deep-sea mining industry for far too long.

What are the main environmental concerns associated with deep-sea mining?

Deep-sea mining raises several environmental concerns, mainly because we know so little about life in the deep ocean. For example, scientists have only recently discovered that ‘dark oxygen’ is produced at great depths by testing underwater minerals. This shows how much we still have to learn about deep-sea ecosystems and their role in the environment.

While some argue we need deep-sea minerals for a green future, this perspective overlooks the environmental damage mining can cause. Mining the seabed can destroy habitats and harm marine life. A major concern is the sediment plumes created by mining – underwater clouds of dust that can travel for miles and affect species living far above the seabed.

Deep-sea mining also poses a serious threat to local communities, particularly those living near the coast who depend on the ocean for their livelihoods. These communities often have strong cultural and spiritual ties to the ocean, and any damage to the environment has a direct impact on their wellbeing. Unfortunately, these Indigenous and frontline communities are the ones who end up suffering the most from extractive industries.

Stopping deep-sea mining is key to protecting both the environment and the communities that depend on it. Justifying deep sea mining as a way to achieve a green future is not enough. Instead of relying on a linear economy where we constantly extract and dispose of resources, we should move towards a circular economy that focuses on recycling and reusing what we already have.

How should the ISA approach the licensing of seabed mining?

Greenpeace advocates for a moratorium – a temporary halt – on deep-sea mining because of its unsustainable nature and significant environmental risks. We believe the ISA should take a precautionary approach and delay any new mining licences until we have conducted scientific research that helps us fully understand deep-sea ecosystems.

The ISA should also ensure its governance is equitable and inclusive by inviting diverse stakeholders, such as Indigenous communities with strong cultural and spiritual ties to the ocean, to participate in its debates. This approach would help ensure that biodiversity and marine conservation are prioritised in all ISA decision-making processes.

While Greenpeace is not officially part of the ISA, we are active observers and work with other civil society organisations and Indigenous-led groups to push for this moratorium. We urge governments not to authorise, sponsor or subsidise deep-sea mining or related research, and to halt the development of the Mining Code under the ISA.

Deep-sea mining exacerbates global environmental crises by causing habitat destruction and biodiversity loss. We should instead focus our efforts on moving towards a circular economy that recycles and reuses our existing resources. This would help us address environmental challenges more effectively and sustainably.