Peter Thomson Was Elected the President of International Seabed Authority

The International Seabed Authority (ISA) elected Peter Thomson, its President on 14 July 2011. Peter Thomson is Fiji’s permanent representative to the United Nations. Thomson was elected as ISA president by its assembly during its annual session in Kingston, Jamaica.

The assembly is the supreme body of the organisation, consisting of delegations from 161 member countries. Fiji has played a prominent role at the ISA since its inception.

ISA was established by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea held in the year 1982. Fiji became the first nation to sign the convention on 10 December 1982.

ISA is an autonomous international organisation. Any nation which becomes a party to the convention is given the responsibility of organizing, controlling and administering the resources of the international seabed beyond the limits of national exclusive economic zone.