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Seven Law of the Sea Experts Appointed to Advisory Panel in Support of the International Seabed Authority Endowment Fund

"I am pleased that the members of our Advisory Panel represent such a diverse group of law of the sea experts," said Mr. Satya Nandan, Secretary-General of the Authority. "Scientists applying to participate in deep-sea research activities through the Endowment Fund will be well served by this Panel."

The ISA Endowment Fund was set up to encourage collaborative marine scientific research on the ocean floor beyond the limits of national jurisdiction. The Fund aims to fulfill this mandate: by supporting the participation of qualified scientists and technical personnel from developing countries in research programmes and activities; and by providing these scientists with opportunities to participate in collaborative research initiatives.

Awards from the Fund will be made by the Secretary-General of the International Seabed Authority on the basis of recommendations by the Advisory Panel following their evaluation of all incoming applications. It is expected that two-three application deadlines per year will be established as scientific research opportunities are finalized.

    Members of the Advisory Panel appointed today include:

        His Excellency Mr. Alfredo Garcia Castelblanco, Permanent
        Representative of Chile to the ISA and Ambassador Extraordinary and
        Plenipotentiary of Chile to Jamaica.

        His Excellency Mr. Chen Jinghua, Permanent Representative of the
        People's Republic of China to the ISA and Ambassador Extraordinary
        and Plenipotentiary of the People's Republic of China to Jamaica.

        His Excellency Mr. Francis Hurtut, Permanent Representative of the
        French Republic to the ISA and Ambassador Extraordinary and
        Plenipotentiary of the French Republic to Jamaica and Bahamas.

        Mr. Coy Roache, Deputy Permanent Representative of Jamaica to the
        ISA.

        Dr. Elva G. Escobar, Head of the Academic Unit in Coastal and
        Oceanographic System at Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico and
        affiliate research professor at Texas A&M University, as well as a
        member of the ISA's Legal and Technical Commission.

        Dr. Craig Smith, a member of the faculty at the Department of
        Oceanography at the University of Hawaii in Manoa who has worked
        extensively with the ISA to predict and manage the environmental
        impacts of nodule mining in the abyssal Pacific.

        Dr. Lindsay M. Parson, a marine geophysicist at the National
        Oceanography Centre in Southampton, United Kingdom and head of the
        technical team that advises the Government of the UK on extending
        offshore economic territories.

Full biographical details of these Panel members, as well as additional information on the ISA Endowment Fund, may be found at www.isa.org.jm/efund.

MEDIA ARE ADVISED that the International Seabed Authority will hold a round table event on its Endowment Fund at the United Nations headquarters in New York on 30 April 2008.

SOURCE International Seabed Authority