25th Anniversary of the International Seabed Authority (ISA)

Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama extended his sincerest congratulations to the UN’s International Seabed Authority (ISA) at a special meeting of the ISA held at the ISA Headquarters in Kingston Jamaica yesterday. The special meeting was held to commemorate the 25th Anniversary of the ISA.

The Prime Minister was represented by Dr Satyendra Prasad – Fiji’s Permanent Representative to the UN and Fiji’s Non-Resident Ambassador to Jamaica and Permanent Representative accredited to the International Seabed Authority.

Dr. Satyendra Prasad co-chaired a high level panel on “strengthening capacity-building opportunities and initiatives for developing states” alongside the President of Nauru, His Excellency Baron Waqa.

Dr. Prasad told the International Seabed Authority that Fiji had a special relationship with the ISA. Fiji led the complex negotiations throughout the 1970’s that led to the adoption of the law of the sea on behalf of Pacific Island Countries at a time when the Pacific was not well represented at the United Nations.

The adoption of the United Nations Convention Law of Sea was a monumental step for Fiji and Pacific Island countries. As a result of the adoption of this historic convention, Pacific Island countries were able to gain control over fish and sea bed resources across their respective 200 mile zones.

Dr. Prasad told the Assembly that Fiji will support ISA in every way possible over the next 25 years. He told the Assembly that when we re-assemble to celebrate the 50th Anniversary, several significant international currents will come together.

“The world would have moved to commercialise seabed mining”, he said.

“ISA must lead the world in ensuring environmental standards are strengthened and adhered to, sharing of royalties and benefits are equitable and that the best science drives this development”.

“The world must have achieved or moved much closer to the net zero carbon target by 2050. If we miss this, we will have to rethink our entire approach to the oceans as a country and at the global level”.

Dr. Prasad told the Assembly that “Fiji along with other countries looks to the wealth and resources of the oceans and the blue economy to achieve the SDG’s by 2030. Fiji seeks to build its prosperity by harnessing the vast resources of its oceans – we need to work with the ISA and the UN system to do this right”.

He told the Assembly, that if we fail to pay attention to the environmental and ocean health questions from all our sea based activities in our waters and beyond, Fiji and the region will lose it all”.

“Finding the right balance between development and conservation, between growth and sustainability is fundamental to Fiji and to the future of the region as a whole”.

“It is not a coincidence that Fiji is the first signatory to both the Law of the Sea and to the Paris Treaty. Getting the balance right is in our DNA. This shapes our domestic economy and our international relations”.

Dr Prasad wished the Sec Gen Michael Lodge and staff of the ISA well as they steer the organisation forward into the next 25 years.

In his remarks, Dr. Prasad also thanked the Prime Minister of Jamaica and the Foreign Minister of Jamaica for their generous support in hosting the headquarters of the ISA for last 25 years in Kingston and supporting so many delegations from Fiji over the years.

Meanwhile, the Secretary General of the ISA Michael Lodge will be visiting Fiji at the end of the month for high level discussions on how ISA can support Fiji to further develop its capabilities for good oceans governance and blue economy.