Assembly
171 Member States + the European Union. Supreme/political organ. Power to establish general policies on any question or matter within the ISA competence. Approves budget. Approves regulations recommended by the Council.
The Assembly
Organs
Organs of the International Seabed Authority
The Assembly, the Council and the Secretariat, with the Legal and Technical Commission, the Finance Committee and the Enterprise.
Principal organs and subsidiary bodies
How ISA is organized
Council
Elected by the Assembly in five groups — major consumers, major investors, major exporters, developing States and special interests, and equitable geographic representation.
The Council
Secretariat
Secretary-General + Administrative and Technical Staff. The seat of the Secretariat is in Kingston, Jamaica.
The Secretariat
Legal and Technical Commission
41 expert members. Recommend approval plans of work. Propose technical & environmental regulations to Council.
The LTC
Finance Committee
15 members including 5 largest contributors (as long as ISA depends on assessed contributions). All financial and budgetary matters must be considered by the Finance Committee.
The Finance Committee
Enterprise
Organ of the ISA mandated to carry out activities in the Area directly. An Interim Director-General has been appointed to carry out the functions of the Enterprise.
The Enterprise
Composition
Who sits on each organ
172
Members of the Assembly
41
expert members of the Legal and Technical Commission
15
members of the Finance Committee
5
groups from which the Council is elected
The Council
Members of the Council by group
In accordance with paragraph 15, section 3 of the annex to the Agreement, the Council shall consist of 36 members elected by the Assembly.
Group A — Major consumers (4)
China, Italy, Japan, Russian Federation
Group B — Major investors (4)
France, India, Netherlands, Republic of Korea
Group C — Major exporters (4)
Australia, Canada, Chile, South Africa
Group D — Developing States and special interests (6)
Bangladesh, Brazil, Jamaica, Lesotho, Nauru, Uganda
Group E — Equitable geographic representation (18)
Argentina, Belgium, Cameroon, Costa Rica, Ghana, Indonesia, Ireland, Mauritius, Mexico, Morocco, Nigeria, Poland, Portugal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, and United Republic of Tanzania
Economic Planning Commission
Not currently operational. Functions carried out by LTC.
The Secretariat
Headed by the Secretary-General
The Secretariat is one of the three principal organs of ISA. The seat of the Secretariat is in Kingston, Jamaica. The Secretariat is headed by the Secretary-General, who is the chief administrative officer of ISA.
The main functions of the Secretariat include providing support to the Secretary-General in fulfilling the functions entrusted to him or her under UNCLOS and the 1994 Agreement and in implementing the mandates provided by the Member States.
