On 19th March 2026, the Ministry of Fisheries and Ocean Resources (MFOR), through its Geoscience Division, convened the first meeting of the Kiribati Seabed Minerals Technical Advisory Committee (KISMTAC) for 2026. The meeting brought together members to review progress on seabed mineral (SBM) activities in the Area (Clarion Clipperton Zone) and Kiribati’s sponsorship arrangements.⁣

Discussions provided an overview of the Seabed Minerals Act 2017, the national sponsorship framework and processes, updates on Kiribati’s sponsored contractor, Marawa Research and Exploration Limited (MREL), and advisory notes from the Commonwealth Secretariat.⁣

A key focus of the consultation was the Draft Sponsorship Regulation, with particular emphasis on Kiribati’s responsibilities as a sponsoring State under the International Seabed Authority (ISA) framework and national legislation. This includes ensuring effective oversight and compliance by sponsored contractors, as well as establishing and implementing a transparent and robust fiscal regime—particularly sponsorship fees—consistent with the Seabed Minerals Act 2017 and the broader national regulatory framework.⁣

Outcomes from the meeting will inform the finalization of the Draft Sponsorship Regulation and further strengthen Kiribati’s governance, accountability, and stewardship of seabed mineral activities in the Area.