Source: PIB
Context: The Union Cabinet has approved India’s signing of the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement.
- This decision aims to conserve and sustainably use marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction, known as the “High Seas.”
- The Ministry of Earth Sciences will lead the implementation of the BBNJ Agreement.
About Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement:
- The BBNJ Agreement, also known as the “High Seas Treaty,” falls under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
- It addresses the protection of marine biodiversity in the high seas through international cooperation and sustainable practices.
- The agreement prohibits sovereign rights over high seas resources and promotes the fair sharing of benefits, an inclusive ecosystem-centric approach, and the use of traditional and scientific knowledge.
- It also aims to minimize environmental impacts and support the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 14 (Life Below Water).
The BBNJ Agreement will become the third implementation agreement under UNCLOS, alongside agreements on mineral resources and fish stocks.
