India signs Treaty of the High Seas

India has made a significant commitment to ocean conservation by signing the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement, also known as the "Treaty of the High Seas."

About BBNJ

• The BBNJ Agreement is designed to safeguard marine life in areas of the ocean that fall outside the jurisdiction of any single country, which begins 370 kilometers from the coastline and constitutes approximately two-thirds of the world's oceans.
• It is an international legally binding treaty, comes under the Law of the Seas Treaty.
• Key points about the agreement:
• Sustainable Resource Use: The treaty aims to ensure that countries use ocean resources sustainably and equitably, preventing any nation from claiming these resources as their own.
• Inclusive Approach: The BBNJ promotes a blend of traditional knowledge and modern scientific methods to enhance ocean protection efforts.
• Regulatory Framework: It establishes rules for conducting activities in the high seas, including mandatory environmental impact assessments to minimize harm to marine ecosystems.
• Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals: The agreement supports the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 14, which focuses on conserving and sustainably using oceans, seas, and marine resources.
• Long-term Negotiations: After two decades of discussions, the BBNJ was finally adopted in 2023, banning harmful practices such as destructive fishing and pollution in high-seas areas.
• India's Participation: By joining the BBNJ, India aims to enhance its marine conservation strategies, allowing for the establishment of marine protected areas in the high seas and fostering international cooperation on technology and resource management.
• Global Support: The BBNJ Agreement has garnered support from 91 countries, including notable signatories like Australia, Canada, and many EU nations, reflecting a growing global consensus on the need to protect high-seas biodiversity.
• Currently, about 100 countries have signed it, and eight of them have ratified it.
• It would also contribute to achieving several SDGs, particularly SDG14 (Life Below Water).
• The BBNJ Agreement is the third implementation agreement under UNCLOS, alongside its sister implementation agreements:
  • 1994 Part XI Implementation Agreement (which addresses the exploration and extraction of mineral resources in the international seabed area)
  • 1995 UN Fish Stocks Agreement (which addresses the conservation and management of straddling and highly migratory fish stocks)