S.Jaishankar signs BBNJ Agreement to Protect Marine Biodiversity

India has officially joined the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement, which seeks to protect marine biodiversity on the high seas.

Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, on behalf of the Government of India, signed the BBNJ agreement on 25 September 2024 at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, the United States of America. 

The Union Cabinet approved the BBNJ agreement in a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 2 July 2024. 

Who will implement the BBNJ Agreement in India? 

The nodal ministry to implement the provisions of the  BBNJ agreement will be the Union Ministry of Earth Science.

About the BBNJ Agreement 

• The Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) agreement, also popularly known as the ‘High Seas Treaty, is an international agreement sponsored by the United Nations under the United Nations Convention on the Law of Sea (UNCLOS). 
• It was agreed upon in March 2023 and opened to signature by the member countries.
• The member countries have until September 2025 to sign the agreement, which will come into force after at least 60 countries ratify it.

Aim of the BBNJ Agreement 

• The agreement provides a set of mechanisms to protect marine biodiversity in the high seas and to sustainably use marine resources(oil and gas, fish, minerals, etc) through international cooperation.
• It prohibits any nation from claiming exclusive rights to marine resources on the High seas.
• The agreement aims to minimise impacts on the marine environment through area-based management tools and by establishing rules for environmental impact assessments.
• It will also help achieve Sustainable Development Goal 14- Life below water.

What are UNCLOS and High Seas?

The United Nations Convention on the Law of Seas (UNCLOS) was adopted on 10 December 1982 and came into force on 16 November 1994. It lays down the rules and regulations regarding the use of marine resources by a coastal country in the seas.

It defines the territorial waters, exclusive economic zones and high seas.

Territorial Waters: 

A coastal country's territorial waters have been set at 12 nautical miles from the country’s continental shelf. Within this limit, countries are, in principle, free to enforce any law, regulate any use, and exploit any resource. A country will allow free navigation to other countries' ships passing through its territorial waters unless that ship poses a security threat to the country.

Exclusive Economic Zones:

A coastal country's exclusive economic zone (EEZ) is defined as an area in the sea extending 200 nautical miles from its continental shelf. Within the EEZ, the country has the right to exploit the natural marine resources (oil and gas, minerals, fish, etc.) found in the waters, on the ocean floor, and in the subsoil of the area.

High Seas: 

Areas that lie beyond the territorial water and the exclusive economic zone of a coastal country. The BBNJ agreement seeks to establish the rights of the countries in the high seas so that conflicts can be avoided.