해양수산부(장관 조승환)는 8월 4일(현지시간) 자메이카 킹스턴에서 열린 제27차 국제해저기구(ISA) 총회에서 우리나라가 프랑스, 독일과 함께 주요투자국 그룹을 대표하는 이사국으로 재선출 되었다고 밝혔다.
국제해저기구는 공해상 심해저자원의 개발 및 관리를 주관하는 국제기구로 UN 해양법협약 당사국인 168개국이 회원국으로 가입하고 있다. 회원국은 심해저광물 소비국(A그룹), 주요 투자국(B그룹), 심해저광물 수출국(C그룹), 개도국(D그룹), 지역안배(E그룹)에 입후보하여 이사국으로 선출되며, 총 36개국으로 이루어진 이사회가 국제해저기구의 주요 정책결정을 담당하게 된다. 현재 우리나라를 포함하여 17개국이 주요 투자국 그룹(B그룹)에 속해있으며, B그룹에 할당된 이사국 수는 총 4석이다. 우리나라는 이번에 함께 선출된 독일, 프랑스, 기존 이사국인 인도와 함께 B그룹을 대표하는 이사국 역할을 수행하게 된다.
우리나라는 지난 1996년 국제해저기구 E그룹 이사국에 진출하였으며, 활발한 심해저 개발 활동을 인정받아 2009년에 B그룹 이사국으로 지위가 변경되어 현재까지 14년간 B그룹 이사국으로 활동해 왔다. 이번 총회 결정으로 5번 연속으로 B그룹 이사국직을 수임하며, 2023년부터 오는 2026년까지 4년간 국제해저기구의 주요 정책수립 과정에 주도적인 역할을 계속 수행하게 되었다.
한편, 우리나라는 태평양 및 인도양 공해와 태평양 도서국 EEZ에 5개의 독점탐사광구(총 11.5만㎢, 남한면적(약 10만㎢)의 1.15배)를 확보하여 해양광물자원 탐사를 진행 중이다. 이중 3개의 광구(망간단괴, 해저열수광상, 망간각)는 국제해저기구와 계약을 체결하여 추진하고 있다.
조승환 해양수산부 장관은 “대한민국의 국제해저기구 이사국 재선출로 심해저 활동 관련 국제규범 제·개정시 우리의 입장을 적극 반영할 수 있게 되었다”며, “이를 계기로 심해저 광물 상업개발 시대의 도래에 대비한 국제표준제도 수립과정에 주도적인 역할을 수행하고, 심해저 광물자원 탐사기술 개발도 차질 없이 추진하겠다”고 말했다.
ISA Assembly concludes in-person meetings under the 27th session
The 27th session of the Assembly of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) closed on 4 August 2022 after three days of in-person meetings held in Kingston, Jamaica. Some delegations attended the session virtually. The meetings were presided by Mr. Olav Myklebust (Norway), who served as Acting President of the Assembly for the 27th session in the absence of the elected president, H.E. Mr. Satyendra Prasad (Fiji).
Key highlights of the meetings include the presentation by the Secretary-General of ISA, H.E. Mr. Michael W. Lodge, of his Annual Report under Article 166(4) of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, detailing the progress realized in the implementation of activities identified to deliver against the nine strategic directions and associated relevant high-level actions of the ISA Strategic Plan and High-Level Action Plan for 2019-2023 for the period 2021-2022. During the general debate, one regional group, 38 Members of ISA and nine observers made statements.
The Assembly also adopted the capacity development strategy for ISA, which aims at further promoting and strengthening capacity development programmes and initiatives for developing States to ensure more effective participation in activities carried out in the Area and in the work of ISA.
On the recommendation of the Council, the Assembly approved the budget of ISA for the period 2023-2024. The Assembly elected 18 members to fill vacancies on the Council for the period 2023-2026[1] and elected 15 members of the Finance Committee for a five-year term from 1 January 2023 to 13 December 2026.
The Assembly approved five requests for observer status with ISA submitted by the Interamerican Association for Environmental Defense, the Ocean Foundation, Cluster Maritime Français, Oceans North and the World Organization of Dredging Associations. This brings the number of non-governmental organizations with observer status with ISA to 37 and the total number of observers to 99.
Secretary-General Lodge presented the Third Edition of the Secretary-General's Award for Excellence in Deep-Sea Research to Dr. Kirsty McQuaid from South Africa. Dr. McQuaid is a marine scientist working at the interface between environmental management and marine conservation. She was recognized for designing networks of marine protected areas around South Africa and using habitat classification to assess the representativity of the network of areas of particular environmental interest in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone.
While accepting her award, Dr. McQuaid declared: “I am honored to have been selected as the recipient of this year’s award. This recognition is important for raising the profile of early-career deep-sea scientists from developing nations and providing further opportunities to grow in this field. I would like to thank the Secretary-General, the advisory committee, the Government of Monaco, Nauru Ocean Resources Inc. and my academic mentors for their generous support.”
A special event was held on the afternoon of 1 August 2022 at the request of the Government of Jamaica to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the adoption and opening for the signature of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. Senator the Honorable Kamina Johnson Smith, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of Jamaica, the Honorable Geoffrey Onyeama, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Nigeria and the Honorable Athill Dean Jonas, Minister of Social Transformation, Human Resource Development and the Blue Economy of Antigua and Barbuda were among the distinguished delegates in attendance. Delegations also congratulated Jamaica on its 60th anniversary of independence.
The Assembly also paid tribute to the memory of Nii Allotey Odunton, who served as ISA Secretary-General from 2009-2016 and passed away on 13 February 2022.
