On Thursday, India signed the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement, commonly referred to as the “High Seas Treaty.” This significant move enables India to strengthen its strategic presence in areas outside its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) while promoting the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar signed the agreement on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. The BBNJ is an international treaty governed by the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, aimed at addressing the growing concerns regarding the long-term protection of marine biodiversity in the high seas.
Jaishankar expressed on X, “India is proud to be a part of the BBNJ agreement, marking a significant move towards maintaining the health and resilience of our oceans,” following the treaty’s signing at the UN headquarters.
This legally binding treaty was concluded in March 2023 and will be available for signatures for two years beginning in September 2023. It will come into force 120 days after the 60th ratification. Currently, nearly 100 countries have signed the agreement, with eight having ratified it.
The treaty establishes clear mechanisms for the sustainable use of marine biological diversity through international cooperation and coordination. Member countries are prohibited from claiming or exercising sovereign rights over marine resources from the high seas and are required to ensure fair and equitable sharing of benefits derived from such resources.
The agreement focuses on four main areas: managing marine genetic resources, implementing area-based management tools such as marine protected areas, conducting environmental impact assessments, and fostering capacity-building and the transfer of marine technology.
Additionally, the treaty aims to open new avenues for scientific research and development, tackle various cross-cutting issues, establish a funding mechanism, and set up institutional frameworks, including a Conference of the Parties (COP), various subsidiary bodies, a clearing-house mechanism, and a secretariat.
