On 1 November 2025, the world joined hands to celebrate something extraordinary, the “first-ever International Day of the Deep Seabed”, launched by the International Seabed Authority (ISA).
This new observance reminds us that beneath the ocean’s surface lies a vast, mysterious world known as the “deep seabed”, an area that belongs to no single nation but to (all of humankind). It’s a place of breathtaking ecosystems, untold scientific secrets, also of great responsibility.
At the Center for Community and Oceanic Law, we see this day as a call to action. A reminder that stewardship of our shared ocean floor must balance exploration with protection, ambition with ethics, and innovation with inclusion.
We celebrate ISA’s effort to bring global attention to the seabed, not as a treasure chest to be exploited, but as a _heritage to be cared for_ . As countries debate how to regulate future deep-sea mining, CCOL believes the focus must remain on:
1) Fair benefit-sharing- so no nation is left behind;
2) Environmental safeguards- that protect fragile ecosystems; and
3) Public awareness- so every citizen understands what’s at stake.
For nations like Nigeria and others across Africa, this moment offers a chance to build capacity in marine science, ocean law, and sustainable governance. We must ensure that when decisions about the deep seabed are made, our voices and those of our coastal communities are part of the conversation.
This inaugural celebration about the depth of our shared responsibility within the seabed and how we care for it will define the kind of world we leave behind
Let’s make it a legacy we can all be proud of.
Center for Community and Oceanic Law (CCOL)
