Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction -BBNJ

India has taken a big step to protect ocean life by signing an important international agreement called the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement, or the "Treaty of the High Seas".

This agreement was signed by India's External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar, at the United Nations General Assembly in New York on September 25, 2024.

The goal of the BBNJ Agreement is to protect marine life in areas of the ocean that are not owned by any one country.

These areas start 370 kilometres from any country's coastline and cover two-thirds of the world's oceans.

allows India to create marine protected areas in the high seas, conduct environmental impact assessments and ensure that marine resources are used sustainably.

promotes cooperation and technology sharing between countries, helping India strengthen its Conservation efforts.

strengthens India's presence beyond its Exclusive Economic Zone, offering new opportunities for marine conservation.

The treaty encourages an inclusive approach that combines traditional knowledge and modern science to protect the ocean.

It sets rules for countries to follow when planning activities in the high seas, like conducting environmental impact assessments to avoid harm to marine ecosystems.

This agreement also helps meet the goals of Sustainable Development, especially SDG 14, which focuses on protecting life underwater.

After 20 years of discussions, the BBNJ Agreement was finally adopted last year.

It bans harmful activities, such as destructive fishing practices and pollution, in the high seas.

Countries like Australia, Canada, Chile, Colombia and many in the European Union have also joined this cause.

supports the target of protecting 30 per cent of the world's land and sea by 2030, which was set during the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework meeting in 2022.

The BBNJ Agreement is part of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which is often called the "constitution of the Ocean'".

It addresses important issues like Ocean protection, fairness, environmental damage, climate change and biodiversity loss.