SEABED COUNCIL HEARS INITIAL VIEWS OF COUNTRIES

ON POLYMETALLIC SULPHIDES, COBALT CRUSTS

(Received from the International Seabed Authority.)

KINGSTON, 5 July -- Participants in the Council of the International Seabed Authority voiced their preliminary comments this afternoon as the Council began discussing the regulation of exploration for polymetallic sulphides and cobalt-rich crusts.

SEABED COUNCIL DISCUSSES STATUS OF OPERATORS’ CONTRACTS,

ELECTION TO LEGAL AND TECHNICAL COMMISSION

(Received from the International Seabed Authority.)

SEABED COUNCIL TAKES UP POLYMETALLIC SULPHIDES, COBALT-RICH CRUSTS

(Received from the International Seabed Authority.)

KINGSTON, 4 July -- The Council of the International Seabed Authority, meeting in Kingston, began considering this morning, for the first time, two recently discovered but widespread mineral resources on the deep ocean bed  -- polymetallic sulphides and cobalt-rich crusts.

Biographical Note                                           BIO/3370*

SEABED AUTHORITY WORKSHOP SUGGESTS WAYS TO STANDARDIZE DATA

ON ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF DEEP-SEA MINERAL EXPLORATION

(Received from the International Seabed Authority.)

INTERNATIONAL SEABED AUTHORITY OPENS SEVENTH SESSION;

ASSEMBLY ELECTS PRESIDENT, ADOPTS AGENDA

(Received from the International Seabed Authority.)

KINGSTON, 2 July -- The Assembly of the International Seabed Authority opened the Authority’s seventh session in Kingston this morning with the election of its President by consensus and the adoption of an 11-item agenda for this year’s two-week session, running from 2 to 13 July.

Background Release

SEABED AUTHORITY TO START DRAFTING RULES FOR EXPLORING

POLYMETALLIC SULPHIDES AND COBALT-RICH CRUSTS

(Received from the International Seabed Authority.)

Round-up

COMMISSION ON LIMITS OF CONTINENTAL SHELF CONTINUES WITH ISSUES OF TRAINING,

FURTHER PREPARES FOR RECEIPT OF SUBMISSIONS FOR EXTENDED CONTINENTAL SHELF

Meeting of States Parties

To Law of the Sea Convention

60^th Meeting (PM)

Meeting of States Parties

To Law of the Sea Convention

60^th Meeting (PM)

STATES PARTIES TO LAW OF SEA CONVENTION RESOLVE ISSUE OF 10-YEAR TIME PERIOD

FOR SUBMISSION OF CONTINENTAL SHELF DATA

At Eleventh Meeting’s Final Session,

Delegates Decide on 13 May 1999 as Starting Date