By Noel M. Soria
For Variety
FOR decades, Pacific communities have been told that the International Seabed Authority or ISA would create a strong, science‑based Mining Code before any commercial activity in the deep ocean could begin. Yet today, the world is still waiting — and the ISA’s delays are no longer harmless. They are dangerous.
The latest Council session summary, available at enb.iisd.org/international-seabed-authority-isa-council-31-1, shows a familiar pattern: long discussions, unresolved provisions, and another round of promises that “more work is needed.” Meanwhile, geopolitical pressure is rising, contractors are preparing for industrial operations, and several states are openly exploring unilateral pathways that bypass the ISA entirely.
For the Pacific — the region most directly affected — this is unacceptable.
The deep ocean is not an abstract concept for us. It is our backyard, our identity, our food security, and our future. When the ISA hesitates, the Pacific pays the price. When the ISA delays, others move ahead without us. And when the ISA fails to lead, it invites a global free‑for‑all that undermines the very principle of the “common heritage of humankind.”
The current Mining Code draft, posted at isa.org.jm/the-mining-code/, remains “incomplete.” Critical environmental safeguards, financial terms, compliance mechanisms, and benefit‑sharing structures are still unresolved. The world cannot rely on an unfinished rulebook while industrial interest accelerates.
At this point, delay is not caution — delay is a decision. And it is a decision with consequences.
Every month without a finalized Mining Code increases the risk that powerful states and private contractors will act on their own terms. Every postponement weakens the ISA’s authority. Every vague communiqué signals that the institution entrusted with governing nearly half the planet is struggling to meet its mandate.
The Pacific cannot afford an ISA that moves slower than the forces reshaping the ocean.
If the ISA intends to remain the legitimate global regulator of activities in the Area, it must act with urgency and clarity. The world — and especially the Pacific — deserves:
– A firm, public timeline for completing the Mining Code
– A concrete plan to resolve the remaining governance and environmental gaps
– A transparent strategy to prevent unilateral permitting from undermining the ISA’s jurisdiction
These are not radical demands. They are the minimum expectations for an institution responsible for protecting the largest shared ecosystem on Earth.
The Pacific has always been patient, respectful, and collaborative. But patience is not infinite. The ISA must demonstrate that it is capable of governing with the seriousness this moment requires. The deep ocean is not a regulatory vacuum waiting to be exploited — it is the living foundation of our region and our planet.
The ISA has talked about leadership for years. Now it must finally show it.
Enjoy exploring this deep‑dive perspective through both audio and video, here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1bXl4IVtPuFpx81HklvZvD5yrtF2tm-Pp
Thank you.
