DSM Observer

@DrAndrewThaler I'm proud of the work I and my predecessor, @arlohemphill, have done with the DSMO. We had a mandate: to raise the profile of the most important debate in the ocean. And now, with attention on Deep-sea Mining firm in the popular press, I'm ready to move on to the next project.

We will be archiving the site to ensure that everything remains available for the foreseeable future. I, @DrAndrewThaler, will still be active in the industry and the deep-sea research community. I'm not going anywhere.

After six years, the Deep-sea Mining Observer is coming to a close. A farewell from the Editor: It’s science fiction, until it isn’t. dsmobserver.com/2023/01/a-fare…

As member states of the International Seabed Authority debate this week whether deep sea mining should be go forward, I’m re-upping my April 2022 LA Times investigation of the ISA and its conflicts of interest with the seabed mining companies it regulates. latimes.com/politics/story…

Important reminder: this is only a meeting of the Council, not the full Assembly. Which means that while important, critical decisions about the future of the ocean are being made these next two week, the Mining Code will not be approved until at least the next Assembly meeting.

Starting Now(ish)! isa.org.jm/web-tv The 3rd Meeting of the 27th Session of the International Seabed Authority.

The Metals Company Subsidiary, NORI, Receives ISA Recommendation to Commence Pilot Nodule Collection Trials in the Clarion Clipperton Zone of the Pacific Ocean buff.ly/3x0pAeM

"Deep-sea mining may very well present a preferable, even necessary, alternative to terrestrial mining. But, as currently envisioned, it will almost certainly supplement, rather than supplant, terrestrial mining for the foreseeable future."

New on the Observer: The Price We’re Willing to Pay: trade-offs and balance in the deep-sea mining industry buff.ly/3efhj00

Learning about deep sea mining took me to both the Pacific Ocean and to the Caribbean, visiting an offshore exploration ship & the HQ of International Seabed Authority in Jamaica. And months of work. Thanks NYT subscribers for supporting this effort. nytimes.com/2022/08/29/ins…

After a very efficient session, @ISBAHQ Assembly finalized consideration of financial matters, including the budget, and agreed on the Authority’s capacity development strategy, which attracted positive comments from delegates. #deepseamining #ISBA27

On Monday, #ISBA27 opened to address important agenda items about #deepseamining exploitation. In the afternoon, a special session was held to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. Our highlights and images ➡️ enb.iisd.org/assembly-inter…

The “Sword of Damocles” hangs over the future of Deep-sea Mining buff.ly/3oqAdm6

[New Paper] @ISMEJournal show that the hot vent Scaly-foot Snail likely uses both maternal transmission + environmental aquisition for its endosymbionts! Also, the snail buffers symbionts from environmental variability across different vents. OPEN ACCESS: nature.com/articles/s4139…

Applications are still open for FIVE at-sea on-board training opportunities provided by #DORD for candidates from developing States, Members of @ISBAHQ. Apply here bit.ly/ISA_DORD_CTP20… by 31 July!

(note: I'm trying to capture quotes, but the quotes are from translators. Assume they are paraphrases)

Strong statement from Costa Rica on the stakes involved in beginning deep-sea mining under a rushed, 2-year-trigger regime: "These are the only resources we are ruling over as an international community." and "the first time in history where regulation can proceeds exploitation."

Costa Rica's delegate to the International Seabed Authority, @gina31854903, is telling the ISA Council that deep sea mining should be postponed due to the lack of scientific knowledge of the ocean ecosystems targeted for exploitation. @ISBAHQ #deepseamining

@IISD_ENB Small correction: $570k is the cost to host the ENB for 2023-2024 meetings. The ISA Secretariat has also opted not to. A missed opportunity this year, even with a budget windfall, and a missed opportunity for the next two years. Proposed Budget Here: isa.org.jm/files/files/do…

The Secretariat also reported that having @IISD_ENB attend the 2022 meetings and provide a daily, unbiased external reporting services during the proceedings would cost $570,000. It seems like there was a lost opportunity to provide enhanced transparency at these meetings.

ISA Finance Committee reports an unspent surplus of indicated under expenditure of $588,874 due to curtailed in-person meetings...