Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement

The Union Cabinet approved India's signing of the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement. This agreement focuses on conserving and sustainably using marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction, often referred to as the 'High Seas'.

About the Agreement

• The BBNJ Agreement, part of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), aims to protect marine biodiversity in the high seas.
• The agreement provides for the common governance of about half of the Earth’s surfaceand 95% of the ocean’s volume, the largest habitat on our blue planet.
• It establishes mechanisms for sustainable use through international cooperation and coordination.
• Objective:The treaty is meant “to prevent a cascading of species extinctions” brought on by overfishing, oil extraction, deep-sea mining and other activities with environmental impacts that occur in the high seas.
• It enables Marine Protected Areas (MPAs)to be established within the high seas, which will limit the presence of harmful human activities.
• Features and Principles:
  • Parties cannot claim sovereign rights over marine resources in the high seas, ensuring fair and equitable benefit-sharing.
  • Emphasizes an ecosystem-centric approach, integrating traditional knowledge and scientific insights.
  • Promotes environmental impact assessments and area-based management tools to minimize harm to marine ecosystems.
• Implementation: The Ministry of Earth Sciences will lead India's implementation of the BBNJ Agreement. When ratified, it will be the third UNCLOS implementation agreement, alongside those regulating seabed mining and fish stocks.

Need of the Agreement

• Overexploitation of Global Fish Stocks: As of 2023, 90% of large fish populations are depleted. Overfishing disrupts marine food chains and ecosystems, impacting biodiversity.
• Plastic Pollution: Millions of tons of plastic waste with toxic chemicals enter coastal ecosystems. This harms marine life such as fish, sea turtles, seabirds, and mammals. Plastic enters the food chain and can affect human health.
• Climate Change Impact on Oceans: Global warming is raising ocean temperatures. This leads to more severe storms, higher sea levels, and salinization of coastal areas. These changes threaten marine habitats and coastal communities.

Benefits for India:

• It will enhance India's strategic presence beyond its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), facilitating scientific research, technology transfer, and capacity building.
• Furthermore, it will strengthen marine conservation efforts and promotes collaborations for shared benefits and sustainable development.