Headline: Workshop on Enhancing Stakeholder Participation and Transparency in the ISA Process

The workshop will take place as a side event during the International Seabed Authority (ISA) Annual Session. The Workshop will bring together representatives from governments andindustry, experts from science, as well ascivil society and other stakeholders to share and discuss perspectives and ideas regarding enhancing stakeholder participation and transparency in the ISA process.

1. Questions to be discussed include: What data and information, needed for sound decision-making on the exploitation of marine minerals and the protection of marine environment, should be made available to stakeholders outside the ISA? Who needs access to the information and why?
2. How can stakeholders be provided with better means of participating in the ISA meetings and decision-making processes?
3. What changes in operation of the LTC, Council, and Assembly would be most helpful in facilitating stakeholder participation and transparency?

The Workshop is being convened by RESOLVE and The Pew Charitable Trusts together with the Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies, the Commonwealth Secretariat, and the World Economic Forum’s Global Agenda Councils on Oceans and on the Future of Mining and Metals.

During the workshop the IASS Policy brief “Towards Transparent Governance of Deep Seabed Mining” (Christiansen et al. 2016) will be launched and presented to the ISA constituency.

It will take place on Saturday, July 16, 2016, at the Moon Palace Jamaica Grande Resort in Ocho Rios.