Local NGO awarded “observer” status to ISA

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The International Seabed Authority (ISA), a division of the United Nations, has awarded “observer” status to the American Samoa Economic Development Council (ASEDC). There are 60 ISA Non-Governmental Organization observers worldwide. Observers may be present at ISA delegate hearings and provide technical, cultural, environmental and scientific information to ISA.

ASEDC is the first territorial NGO to receive observer status. ASEDC executive director, John Wasko, has delegated two council members to represent ASEDC in ISA meetings. Wasko said the ISA observer status is a major step in developing American Samoa’s economy.

ABOUT ISA

The International Seabed Authority (ISA) is an autonomous international organization 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 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (1994 Agreement).

ISA is the organization through which States Parties to UNCLOS organize and control all mineral-resources-related activities in the Area for the benefit of humankind as a whole. In so doing, ISA has the mandate to ensure the effective protection of the marine environment from harmful effects that may arise from deep-seabed-related activities.

ISA, which has its headquarters in Kingston, Jamaica, came into existence on November 16, 1994, upon the entry into force of UNCLOS. It became fully operational as an autonomous international organization in June 1996, when it took over the premises and facilities in Kingston, Jamaica, previously used by the United Nations Kingston Office for the Law of the Sea.

In accordance with UNCLOS, Article 156(2), all States Parties to UNCLOS are ipso facto members of ISA. As of September 2, 2024, ISA has 170 members, including 169 Member States and the European Union.

The area and its resources are the common heritage of humankind. The Area covers around 54 per cent of the total area of the world’s oceans.