The first part of the 31st Session of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) Council took place in Kingston, Jamaica, from 9 to 19 March 2026.

The meeting brought together over 250 participants, including representatives of most of the Council’s member states, and coincided with a particular moment of intensified global debate on the future of deep-sea mineral resource exploitation.

Poland was represented by Michał Pilaszkiewicz from the Polish Geological Institute – National Research Institute (PGI-NRI), Bartosz Jasiński from the Ministry of Climate and Environment, and Tomasz Kamiński, PhD, from the University of Warsaw.

The main focus of the meeting was the further development of operational regulations under the Mining Code, which set out the conditions for the commercial extraction of minerals from the seabed outside national jurisdiction. Discussions covered environmental, financial, institutional and procedural, as well as management issues.

Prior to the first part of this year’s Council meeting, the Legal and Technical Commission held its session, whilst meetings of the other bodies will take place during the second part of the 31st session of the ISA. It is worth noting that the Organisation deals with the seabed area located beyond national jurisdiction (the so-called Area).

On the first day of the Council’s meeting, a new Chair was elected: Mayank Joshi from India.

Particular attention was paid to the protection of the marine environment, emphasising the importance of Regional Environmental Management Plans (REMPs), the precautionary approach, and the need to base decisions on scientific data. Some states called for extraction to be permitted only after its safety for the environment had been confirmed.

Financial issues were also discussed, including the model for fees and the sharing of benefits from exploitation, with some states questioning its assumptions. In the institutional sphere, oversight mechanisms were analysed, including the establishment of a Compliance Committee.

Despite progress in the talks, many issues remain unresolved, including the scope of regulation and legal definitions. It was agreed that work would continue and further negotiations should take place in July 2026.

Poland maintains a balanced position on the future direction of deep-sea mining – it is neither in favour of introducing a moratorium or temporary pause, as proposed by some countries, nor of the rapid commencement of resource exploitation in the Area. By continuing its research activities under exploration contracts held – either directly or through cooperating entities – it contributes to deepening knowledge of the seabed environment and its biodiversity. At the same time, Poland consistently supports the development of comprehensive and robust extraction regulations in the Area.

The first part of the 31st session of the Council confirmed that the ISA is at a crucial point in its activities. On the one hand, there is visible pressure to adopt regulations enabling the start of commercial extraction; on the other, there are growing expectations regarding the assurance of high standards of environmental protection and transparency in the management system.

The plenary hall at the Jamaican Conference Centre, where the ISA meetings are held

Bartosz Jasiński (Ministry of Climate and Environment) delivering a statement on behalf of the Polish delegation

Dyskusje prowadzone w Kingston pokazują, że ostateczny kształt przyszłego reżimu prawnego będzie wynikiem kompromisu między tymi podejściami, a sama struktura Rady – określona w Konwencji o prawie morza – odgrywa w tym procesie kluczową rolę, zapewniając reprezentację zróżnicowanych interesów społeczności międzynarodowej.

Udział delegacji PIG-PIB w 31. sesji Międzynarodowej Organizacji Dna Morskiego został sfinansowany ze środków Narodowego Funduszu Ochrony Środowiska i Gospodarki Wodnej.

Tekst: Michał Pilaszkiewicz, Agata Kozłowska-Roman, Bartosz Jasiński

Zdjęcia: ISA/Anastasia Rodopoulou