Dr. Mario Aurelio (first row, extreme right) attends Part II of the meetings of the Legal and Technical Commission (LTC) in the resumption of the 31st Session of the International Seabed Authority (ISA), taking place from 29 June to 10 July 2026 at the ISA Headquarters in Kingston, Jamaica.
During this meeting, the LTC executed its functions including, inter alia, consideration of: a) review of annual reports of contractors; b) evaluation of applications for plans of work for exploration; c) applications for extension of contracts for exploration; d) status of the implementation of training programmes under plans of work for exploration; e) development of standards and guidelines for activities in the Area; f) review of the establishment of regional environment plans (REMP); g) relinquishment of areas under exploration contracts, and h) review of environmental impact statement under exploration contracts.
The ISA is an autonomous United Nations (UN) organization mandated under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) to administer and regulate activities related to exploration and management of seabed mineral resources in areas beyond national jurisdiction, with due regard to the protection of the marine environment. The Authority operates under the principle that such seabed resources are a Common Heritage of Mankind and that their exploitation is for the benefit of humankind as a whole.
Dr. Aurelio is the Chair of the Training Subgroup of the LTC tasked to undertake procedures relating to the implementation of training programmes under plans of work for exploration, including the selection of candidates to training opportunities allocated by contractors as part of their contractual obligations.