Skip to content

Southern Fried Science

Over 15 years of ocean science and conservation online

  • Home
  • About SFS
  • Authors
  • Support SFS

Tag: International Seabed Authority

Deep-sea Mining: What went down in 2024?

Posted on January 13, 2025January 16, 2025 By Andrew Thaler
Deep-sea Mining: What went down in 2024?
Featured, Policy

The march towards deep-sea mining is a slow and stately trudge through a complex international negotiation. The real progress isn’t made in flashy headlines or overhyped announcements, but in painstaking deliberations and incremental progress in the mining code and the environmental and financial regimes. In as much as 2024 was a fairly standard year in … Read More “Deep-sea Mining: What went down in 2024?” »

Leticia Carvalho will be the next Secretary General of the International Seabed Authority

Posted on August 2, 2024August 2, 2024 By Andrew Thaler
Leticia Carvalho will be the next Secretary General of the International Seabed Authority
Featured, News, Policy

In a surprise upset on the final day of the 29th Session of the International Seabed Authority, Leticia Carvalho secured the position of Secretary General over 8-year incumbent Michael Lodge. The 79 to 34 vote was a decisive rejection of Lodge’s leadership, whose tenure has been marred by criticism that he has improperly shared information … Read More “Leticia Carvalho will be the next Secretary General of the International Seabed Authority” »

Election of ISA Secretary-General mired by accusations of bribery and corruption

Posted on July 5, 2024July 5, 2024 By Andrew Thaler
Election of ISA Secretary-General mired by accusations of bribery and corruption
News, Policy

In a little over 2 week, the International Seabed Authority will once again convene in Kingston, Jamaica to continue the 30-year process of establishing a regulatory regime for mining the minerals of the deep sea beyond the borders of any nation. This deep-sea mining negotiation is the most important meeting for not only the future … Read More “Election of ISA Secretary-General mired by accusations of bribery and corruption” »

What I’m watching for at this month’s ISA meeting: The Vibes

Posted on March 22, 2024 By Andrew Thaler 1 Comment on What I’m watching for at this month’s ISA meeting: The Vibes
What I’m watching for at this month’s ISA meeting: The Vibes
Featured, Policy

The International Seabed Authority is meeting this month in Jamaica, but it is not the entire International Seabed Authority. Only the Legal and Technical Commission and the Council meet this months. The Legal and Technical Commission is a body of experts that reviews documents and proposals, usually in private as many contain privileged information from … Read More “What I’m watching for at this month’s ISA meeting: The Vibes” »

What I’m watching for at this month’s ISA meeting: How to Value Cultural Heritage on the High Seas?

Posted on March 21, 2024March 22, 2024 By Andrew Thaler
What I’m watching for at this month’s ISA meeting: How to Value Cultural Heritage on the High Seas?
Featured, Policy

Cultural Heritage is a bit of a tough concept when working in areas beyond national jurisdiction. By definition, the places being considered for deep-sea mining by the International Seabed Authority exist at least 200 nautical miles from land and human habitation. Even most submerged archeological sites lie on continental shelves within nations’ exclusive economic zones. … Read More “What I’m watching for at this month’s ISA meeting: How to Value Cultural Heritage on the High Seas?” »

What I’m watching for at this month’s ISA meeting: untangling the financial regime

Posted on March 20, 2024March 20, 2024 By Andrew Thaler
What I’m watching for at this month’s ISA meeting: untangling the financial regime
Featured, Policy

The Common Heritage of Mankind. The core principle that underlies all of the negotiations surrounding deep-sea mining beyond national borders is that these resources don’t belong to any one person, organization, or nation, but to humankind as a whole, to be exploited (or not) for the benefit of the world as a whole. With the … Read More “What I’m watching for at this month’s ISA meeting: untangling the financial regime” »

What I’m watching for at this month’s ISA meeting: How are pro-moratorium member states dealing with their own mining leases?

Posted on March 19, 2024March 21, 2024 By Andrew Thaler 1 Comment on What I’m watching for at this month’s ISA meeting: How are pro-moratorium member states dealing with their own mining leases?
What I’m watching for at this month’s ISA meeting: How are pro-moratorium member states dealing with their own mining leases?
Featured, Policy

One curious contradiction in the International Seabed Authority is that some of the member states that are currently most vocal about enforcing a strong moratorium (if not outright ban) on deep-sea mining also currently hold ISA exploration leases. The UK and France, as well as Germany and Brazil, have all made statements in support of … Read More “What I’m watching for at this month’s ISA meeting: How are pro-moratorium member states dealing with their own mining leases?” »

What I’m watching for at this month’s ISA meeting: How the Council responds to the NORI-D Incident

Posted on March 18, 2024 By Andrew Thaler
What I’m watching for at this month’s ISA meeting: How the Council responds to the NORI-D Incident
Featured, Policy

In November and December of 2023, Greenpeace activists boarded a deep-sea mining vessel conducting exploratory research in the Clarion Clipperton Fracture Zone. The executive summary is that the ISA issued interim measure pursuant to Regulation 33 of the Regulations on Prospecting and Exploration for Polymetallic Nodules in an attempt to compel Greenpeace to halt its … Read More “What I’m watching for at this month’s ISA meeting: How the Council responds to the NORI-D Incident” »

Updated financial model for deep-sea mining makes more sense, fewer dollars

Posted on March 11, 2024March 12, 2024 By Andrew Thaler
Updated financial model for deep-sea mining makes more sense, fewer dollars
Education, Featured

On Friday, I posted about the financial model used to project the potential profits from a hypothetical polymetallic nodule mining model in the Clarion Clipperton Zone. This model, originally commissioned in 2018 and updated in 2021/22, had some puzzling prices for manganese in particular. This model is extremely important. Beginning late this month, member states … Read More “Updated financial model for deep-sea mining makes more sense, fewer dollars” »

Something is bothering me about the Economics of Deep-sea Mining

Posted on March 8, 2024March 11, 2024 By Andrew Thaler
Something is bothering me about the Economics of Deep-sea Mining

Note: please see the update to this post – Updated financial model for deep-sea mining makes more sense, fewer dollars This month, once again, the delegations from 169 countries will gather in Kingston, Jamaica to continue the negotiations on the Deep-sea Mining Code. At this point, I’ve written extensively about the potential environmental impacts of … Read More “Something is bothering me about the Economics of Deep-sea Mining” »

Posts pagination

1 2 3 Next

Recent Popular Posts

What Ocean Ramsey does is not shark science or conservation: some brief thoughts on "the Shark Whisperer" documentaryWhat Ocean Ramsey does is not shark science or conservation: some brief thoughts on "the Shark Whisperer" documentaryJuly 2, 2025David Shiffman
Considering writing a popular science book? Here's my adviceConsidering writing a popular science book? Here's my adviceJuly 7, 2025David Shiffman
Marine Biology Career AdviceMarine Biology Career AdviceMay 30, 2025David Shiffman
AuthorsOctober 27, 2013Administrator
Shark of Darkness: Wrath of Submarine is a fake documentaryShark of Darkness: Wrath of Submarine is a fake documentaryAugust 10, 2014Michelle Jewell
Please don't ride sharks, and other great tips from the new  guide to responsible shark divingPlease don't ride sharks, and other great tips from the new guide to responsible shark divingMarch 12, 2017David Shiffman
Donald Trump and Sharks: An Annotated TimelineDonald Trump and Sharks: An Annotated TimelineJune 27, 2024David Shiffman
What is a Sand Shark?What is a Sand Shark?November 12, 2017Chuck Bangley
What can the funniest shark memes on the internetz teach us about ocean science and conservation?What can the funniest shark memes on the internetz teach us about ocean science and conservation?November 8, 2013David Shiffman
About Southern Fried ScienceOctober 27, 2013Administrator
Subscribe to our RSS Feed for updates whenever new articles are published.

We recommend Feedly for RSS management. It's like Google Reader, except it still exists.

Southern Fried Science

  • Home
  • About SFS
  • Authors
  • Support SFS


If you enjoy Southern Fried Science, consider contributing to our Patreon campaign.

Copyright © 2025 Southern Fried Science.

Theme: Oceanly Premium by ScriptsTown