FOURTH MEETING OF UNITED NATIONS INFORMAL CONSULTATIVE PROCESS

ON OCEANS AND LAW OF SEA, MEETS 2 – 6 JUNE

To Focus on Protection of Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems, Safety of Navigation

SEABED AUTHORITY WORKSHOP MAPS PROJECT TO MODEL POLYMETALLIC

NODULE DEPOSITS IN NORTH PACIFIC

(Received from a UN Information Officer)

      NADI, FIJI, 20 May -- A blueprint for clearer scientific assessment of polymetallic nodule deposits on the deep seabed of the Equatorial North Pacific Ocean has been prepared by a workshop of the International Seabed Authority (ISA), held at Nadi, Fiji, from 13 to 20 May.

Round-up of Session

COMMISSION ON LIMITS OF CONTINENTAL SHELF CONCLUDES TWELFTH SESSION

(Reissued as received.)

Background Release

COMMISSION ON LIMITS OF CONTINENTAL SHELF AT HEADQUARTERS, 28 APRIL - 2 MAY;

TO REVIEW PROCEDURES IN LIGHT OF EXAMINATION OF FIRST SUBMISSION

SEVENTEENTH LAW OF SEA FELLOWSHIP AWARDED

ASSEMBLY CONCLUDES EIGHTH SESSION OF SEABED AUTHORITY

(Reissued as received.)

KINGSTON, 15 August (International Seabed Authority) -- The International Seabed Authority ended its eighth session this afternoon after its Assembly set 28 July to 8 August 2003 as the date for its next session at the Authority’s headquarters in Kingston. 

ASSEMBLY ADOPTS SEABED AUTHORITY BUDGET FOR 2002-03;

ELECTS MEMBERS TO COUNCIL, ADOPTS EMBLEM AND FLAG

Completes Discussion of Secretary-General’s Report

(Reissued as received.)

SEABED COUNCIL ENDS SESSION DEVOTED MAINLY TO POLYMETALLIC SULPHIDES AND CRUSTS

(Reissued as received.)

KINGSTON, 15 August (International Seabed Authority) -- The Council of the International Seabed Authority wrapped up its work for the year in Kingston this morning by completing a preliminary exchange of views on possible approaches to the drafting of regulations for polymetallic massive sulphides and cobalt-rich ferromanganese crusts.

Round-up

SEABED AUTHORITY BEGINS WORK ON SCHEME TO REGULATE

POLYMETALLIC SULPHIDES AND COBALT-RICH CRUSTS

(Reissued as received.)

KINGSTON, 15 August (International Seabed Authority) -- The intricacies of writing rules to cover two recently discovered categories of deep-sea mineral deposits were highlighted at the eighth session of the International Seabed Authority, which met from 5 to 15 August in Kingston, Jamaica.

SEABED COUNCIL DISCUSSES LEGAL AND TECHNICAL COMMISSION REPORT,

SULPHIDES AND CRUSTS

(Reissued as received.)