Recently, the Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister has approved India’s right to sign the Biodiversity Agreement beyond national jurisdiction. The Ministry of Earth Sciences of the Government of India will lead the implementation of the BBNJ Agreement in the country. The objective of this treaty, which was signed last year, is to reduce pollution and conserve and sustainably use biodiversity and other marine resources in marine waters.
High Seas
- According to the 1958 Geneva Convention on the High Seas, parts of the sea that are not included in the territorial waters or the internal waters of a country are known as the high seas.
- It is the area beyond a country’s Exclusive Economic Zone (that extends up to 200 nautical miles from the coastline) and till where a nation has jurisdiction over living and non-living resources.
- No country is responsible for the management and protection of resources on the high seas.
Significance
- The high seas cover over 64% of the world’s oceans and 50% of the Earth’s surface, making them vital for marine life.
- They are home to around 270,000 known species, with many yet to be discovered.
- The high seas regulate climate, absorb carbon, store solar radiation, and distribute heat, crucial for planetary stability and mitigating climate change.
- They are essential for human survival, providing resources like seafood, raw materials, genetic and medicinal resources.
Threats
- They absorb heat from the atmosphere and are affected by phenomena like the El Nino, and ocean acidification which is endangering marine flora and fauna.
- Several thousand marine species are at risk of extinction by 2100 if current warming and acidification trends continue.
- Anthropogenic pressures on the high seas include seabed mining, noise pollution, chemical and oil spills and fires, disposal of untreated waste (including antibiotics), overfishing, introduction of invasive species, and coastal pollution.
- Despite these threats, only about 1% of the high seas are currently protected.
High Seas Treaty
- It is formally called the Agreement on Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction. In short, known as BBJN or High Seas Treaty.
- It is a new international legal framework under UNCLOS for maintaining the ecological health of the oceans.
- The treaty was negotiated in 2023 and is meant to reduce pollution, and promote the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity and other marine resources in ocean waters outside the national jurisdiction of any country.
High Seas Treaty
- It is formally called the Agreement on Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction. In short, known as BBJN or High Seas Treaty.
- It is a new international legal framework under UNCLOS for maintaining the ecological health of the oceans.
- The treaty was negotiated in 2023 and is meant to reduce pollution, and promote the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity and other marine resources in ocean waters outside the national jurisdiction of any country.
Key Objectives
- Conservation and Protection of Marine Ecology: This includes the establishment of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) where activities would be regulated to conserve the marine ecosystem.
- Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits of Marine Resources: The treaty aims to ensure that the benefits from commercially valuable ocean organisms, either through scientific research or commercial exploitation, are shared equally among all countries.
- Mandatory Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA): The treaty makes it mandatory to conduct prior EIA for any activity that could potentially pollute or damage the marine ecosystem, even if the activity is within a country’s national jurisdiction but the impact is expected in the high seas.
- Capacity Building and Transfer of Marine Technologies: This will help developing countries to fully utilise the benefits of the oceans while also contributing to their conservation.
Benefits of BBNJ Agreement for India
- This landmark decision is a significant step towards the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction.
- Enhance Strategic Presence: The BBNJ Agreement allows India to enhance its strategic presence in areas beyond its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), which is very promising.
- Strengthen Marine Conservation Efforts and Collaborations: Apart from shared monetary benefits, it will further strengthen marine conservation efforts and collaboration, open new avenues for scientific research and development, promote access to samples, sequences and information, capacity building and technology transfer, etc.
- This is another important step towards ensuring that the oceans remain healthy and sustainable.