Brief

ISA-30 concluded without adopting exploitation regulations, but delivered four binding outcomes and clear work instructions: the Council completed the second reading of the remaining draft regulations, adopted the revised standardized procedure for Regional Environmental Management Plans, decided to initiate the operationalization of the Economic Planning Commission with election mechanisms and budget work programmed for ISA-31, and the Assembly directed development of a Common Heritage Fund concept and created the International Day of the Deep Seabed.

Council Outcomes

The Council finished the second reading of the Revised Consolidated Text up to regulation 107 and agreed to continue negotiations via Friends of the President and inter-sessional groups, with a further revised text requested for 2026. It adopted the Revised Standardized Procedure for the Development, Establishment and Review of REMPs (ISBA/30/C/20), instructing the LTC and Secretariat to implement the procedure and inviting data contributions from states, contractors, and stakeholders. It also adopted the Decision on the Operationalization of the Economic Planning Commission (ISBA/30/C/17), asking the Secretariat to propose election mechanisms for the first part of ISA-31 and the Finance Committee to outline financial implications for the second part.

Assembly Outcomes

Acting on the Finance Committee track, the Assembly decided that the Secretariat should develop the concept of a Common Heritage Fund as one possible mechanism for distributing income from activities in the Area, with a comprehensive report to accompany the concept for future consideration. The Assembly also designated 1 November as the International Day of the Deep Seabed to promote literacy and cooperation, and requested 2026 session dates that avoid conflicts with BBNJ meetings.

Industry Implications

The agreed REMPs procedure clarifies the environmental planning sequence that will frame exploitation decisions, signaling the data, baselines, and monitoring regimes projects must be ready to support. The EPC track begins to fill the economic governance pillar that will inform payment systems and benefit-sharing, which are central to investment models. The Common Heritage Fund work defines a pathway for structuring collective benefits, while intersessional negotiations maintain momentum on the rule text. Together, these outcomes improve predictability on process and institutions while leaving the substantive standards and financial terms to be finalized at ISA-31.

Key Takeaways

  • Regulations not yet adopted, but the Council’s second reading is complete and inter-sessional work continues toward 2026.
  • Council adopted a uniform REMP procedure that the LTC and Secretariat will now apply.
  • Council launched EPC operationalization with concrete instructions for ISA-31.
  • Assembly advanced benefit-sharing architecture via the Common Heritage Fund concept and created a global awareness day.