The opening ceremony was addressed by the International Seabed Authority’s (ISA) Madam Secretary-General Leticia Carvalho and Mr. Shuxian Sun, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Administrator of the State Oceanic Administration of China.
Since the ISA-China JTRC was established in 2020, the Center has trained 120 experts from more than 40 countries through specialized workshops addressing deep-sea science, governance, marine spatial planning, and environmental management. Addressing participants at the opening, Secretary-General Carvalho highlighted the growing strategic importance of cumulative impact assessment for deep-sea governance. She stated that, “As activities and interests in the deep sea continue to expand, understanding cumulative environmental impacts has become essential for ensuring the long-term protection of the marine environment and sustainable use of deep-sea resources.” Secretary-General also announced that the ISA Secretariat is collaborating with the Joint Group of Experts on the Scientific Aspects of Marine Environmental Protection (GESAMP) on a dedicated literature review of cumulative impact assessment methodologies, co-sponsored by the Division of Ocean Affairs and Law of the Sea, the International Maritime Organisation, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, and the United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organization.
Vice Minister Sun, speaking on behalf of the Ministry of Natural Resources of China, reaffirmed China’s strong commitment to international seabed governance and capacity development and outlined three priorities for deeper China-ISA cooperation, including supporting ISA’s active role in global ocean governance, including developing Regional Environmental Management Plans (REMPs) and designating high seas protected areas; advancing the negotiations on the Exploitation Regulations for seabed mineral resources; and continuing to strengthen marine capacity-building for developing countries. Vice Minister Sun noted China’s commitment to the principle of “balancing green and sustainable exploitation of deep-sea minerals by developing eco-friendly mining technologies” and underscored that the international seabed Area is the Common Heritage of Humankind.
The ten-day program will focus on data as the cornerstone of impact assessment, cumulative impact methodologies, environmental management approaches, the protection of the marine environment, and technology development for deep-sea exploration. A dedicated session on the Agreement on Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement) has been incorporated into the curriculum, reflecting the centrality of cumulative impact assessment within the new landmark ocean governance framework. Participants will also undertake site visits to regional centers of excellence and engage in cultural exchanges in Sanya and Hainan Province.
In the margins of her visit, Secretary-General engaged with high-level representatives of key stakeholders of the ISA-China JTRC, including Dr. Xiangyang Li, Deputy Director of the China Deep Ocean Affairs Administration (CDOAA), which facilitates funding from the Ministry of Natural Resources for the ISA-China JTRC, and Director of the National Deep Sea Center (NDSC), host institution of the ISA-China JTRC. The discussions reflected a shared ambition to scale up the impact and outreach of the activities of the ISA-China JTRC.