INFORME JURÍDICO SOBRE LA DECISIÓN DEL TRIBUNAL ARBITRAL DE NEGAR LA PRESENTACIÓN DE UN AMICUS POR TERCEROS INTERESADOS EN EL CASO ODYSSEY MARINE EXPLORATION, INC. C. LOS ESTADOS UNIDOS MEXICANOS

This legal report by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) analyzes the decision of an arbitral tribunal to deny an amicus curiae submission by CIEL and the Sociedad Cooperativa de Producción Pesquera Puerto Chale in the case of Odyssey Marine Exploration, Inc. v. United Mexican States. The report argues that the denial undermines the legitimacy of investor-State dispute settlement (ISDS) by ignoring public interests, environmental risks, and human rights impacts associated with the Don Diego deep-sea mining project.

• On December 20, 2021, the arbitral tribunal majority denied a request from the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) and the Sociedad Cooperativa de Producción Pesquera Puerto Chale to participate as amicus curiae in the case Odyssey Marine Exploration, Inc. v. United Mexican States (ICSID Case No. UNCT/20/1). The tribunal reasoned that the applicants lacked a significant interest in the arbitration and would not provide a perspective or knowledge different from the parties involved.
• The amicus curiae submission aimed to highlight the environmental and socioeconomic risks of the Don Diego Project, a deep-sea mining venture off the coast of the Baja California Peninsula. Specifically, the project is described as incompatible with fishing concession zones and refuge zones for species protection, posing threats to the marine environment of the Gulf of Ulloa and the livelihoods of local fishers.
• Arbitrator Professor Philippe Sands issued a dissenting opinion, arguing that the majority's decision to exclude the affected community undermines the legitimacy of the proceedings. He asserted that the unique perspective of the fishing cooperative would have been extremely valuable and that the legality of denying permits cannot be separated from the project's actual impacts.
• The report argues that the current ISDS system lacks transparency and often ignores public interests, such as human rights and environmental protection. It posits that amicus curiae submissions are essential tools to rebalance the process, as investment arbitrations review government conduct and affect public interests despite following private arbitration norms.
• The report highlights a systemic issue where the admission of amicus curiae is treated as a discretionary power of the tribunal rather than an obligation to recognize public interest when criteria are met. This discretion allows tribunals to dismiss public interests without adequate argumentation, widening the gap between international investment law and human rights or environmental standards.
• The document notes broader international opposition to deep-sea mining, citing a September 2021 motion by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) World Conservation Congress calling for a moratorium, supported by 81 governments (including Mexico), and a statement by 622 marine science and policy experts from over 44 countries calling for a pause.

APA

Center for International Environmental Law (2022). INFORME JURÍDICO SOBRE LA DECISIÓN DEL TRIBUNAL ARBITRAL DE NEGAR LA PRESENTACIÓN DE UN AMICUS POR TERCEROS INTERESADOS EN EL CASO ODYSSEY MARINE EXPLORATION, INC. C. LOS ESTADOS UNIDOS MEXICANOS. https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Informe-jurídico-sobre-la-decisión-del-Tribunal-Arbitral-de-negar-la-presentación-de-un-amicus-por-terceros-interesados-en-el-caso-Odyssey-Marine-Exploration-Inc-c-Los-Estados-Unidos-Mexicanos.pdf

Chicago

Center for International Environmental Law. INFORME JURÍDICO SOBRE LA DECISIÓN DEL TRIBUNAL ARBITRAL DE NEGAR LA PRESENTACIÓN DE UN AMICUS POR TERCEROS INTERESADOS EN EL CASO ODYSSEY MARINE EXPLORATION, INC. C. LOS ESTADOS UNIDOS MEXICANOS. 2022. https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Informe-jurídico-sobre-la-decisión-del-Tribunal-Arbitral-de-negar-la-presentación-de-un-amicus-por-terceros-interesados-en-el-caso-Odyssey-Marine-Exploration-Inc-c-Los-Estados-Unidos-Mexicanos.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Center for International Environmental Law |title=INFORME JURÍDICO SOBRE LA DECISIÓN DEL TRIBUNAL ARBITRAL DE NEGAR LA PRESENTACIÓN DE UN AMICUS POR TERCEROS INTERESADOS EN EL CASO ODYSSEY MARINE EXPLORATION, INC. C. LOS ESTADOS UNIDOS MEXICANOS |date=February 2022 |url=https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Informe-jurídico-sobre-la-decisión-del-Tribunal-Arbitral-de-negar-la-presentación-de-un-amicus-por-terceros-interesados-en-el-caso-Odyssey-Marine-Exploration-Inc-c-Los-Estados-Unidos-Mexicanos.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{centerforinternationalenvironmentallaw2022informe, author = {{Center for International Environmental Law}}, title = {{INFORME JURÍDICO SOBRE LA DECISIÓN DEL TRIBUNAL ARBITRAL DE NEGAR LA PRESENTACIÓN DE UN AMICUS POR TERCEROS INTERESADOS EN EL CASO ODYSSEY MARINE EXPLORATION, INC. C. LOS ESTADOS UNIDOS MEXICANOS}}, institution = {Center for International Environmental Law}, year = {2022}, month = feb, url = {https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Informe-jurídico-sobre-la-decisión-del-Tribunal-Arbitral-de-negar-la-presentación-de-un-amicus-por-terceros-interesados-en-el-caso-Odyssey-Marine-Exploration-Inc-c-Los-Estados-Unidos-Mexicanos.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }