Beyond Borders: India signs UN Convention on the High Seas to Protect Marine Biodiversity | India News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: India is set to sign a global ‘High Seas Treaty’ – called the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement – that will allow the country to expand its strategic presence in areas beyond its Exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
The agreement is an international treaty under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. It is intended to address growing concerns about the long-term protection of the sea. marine biodiversity on the high seas. The decision for India to sign the treaty was approved by the Cabinet on July 2.
The agreement was agreed in March 2023 and will be open for signature for two years from September 2023. It will be an internationally legally binding treaty after it enters into force 120 days after the 60th anniversary of the agreement.^eratification. As of June 2024, 91 countries had signed it and eight of them had ratified it.
“India remains committed and proactive towards the global cause of environmental conservation and sustainable development“We will sign the agreement and are in favour of subsequently ratifying it through necessary legislative processes,” said Minister of State for Earth Sciences (MoES) Jitendra Singh.
The Agreement establishes precise mechanisms for the sustainable use of marine biological diversity through international cooperation and coordination. However, Member States cannot claim or exercise sovereign rights over marine resources originating from the high seas and ensuring a fair and equitable sharing of benefits.
“The agreement enables us to strengthen our strategic presence in areas beyond our EEZ, which is promising. Besides shared monetary benefits, it will further strengthen our efforts and collaborations for conservation of marine environment, open new avenues for scientific research and development, access to samples, sequences and information, capacity building and technology transfer, etc., not only for us but for the benefit of the entire humanity,” said M Ravichandran, Secretary, MoES.