12-July-2024-Special-Article

HIGH SEAS TREATY 

The High Seas Treaty, formally known as the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement, aims to address the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction. These areas, known as the high seas, cover a vast portion of the world’s oceans and are critical for global biodiversity and ecosystem services. 

Understanding the High Seas 

Definition: 

• High Seas: Areas beyond any country’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), extending beyond 200 nautical miles from the coastline. 

• Importance: Covering 64% of the ocean and 50% of Earth’s surface, the high seas are vital for marine biodiversity, climate regulation, and resources like seafood and minerals. 

Challenges: 

• Threats: Include overfishing, seabed mining, pollution (plastics, chemicals, oil spills), and climate change impacts (ocean acidification, temperature rise). 

• Current Protection: Less than 1% of the high seas are currently protected, exacerbating biodiversity loss and environmental degradation. 

Overview of the High Seas Treaty 

Purpose: 

• Objective: To establish a legal framework under UNCLOS for conservation, sustainable use of marine biodiversity, and equitable benefit-sharing. 

• Negotiation: Developed to address gaps in existing international laws and regulations concerning high seas governance. 

Key Objectives: 

• Conservation: Establish Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and regulate activities to safeguard high seas biodiversity. 

• Benefit-Sharing: Ensure fair and equitable distribution of benefits from marine genetic resources for scientific research and commercial exploitation. 

• Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA): Mandate assessments for activities with potential high seas impacts, promoting sustainable practices. 

Global Adoption: 

• Status: As of June 2024, 91 countries have signed, with 8 ratifications required for it to become legally binding. 

• Comparison to Paris Agreement: Similar to the Paris Agreement on climate change, the High Seas Treaty aims to unify global efforts for ocean protection and sustainable use. 

Significance of the High Seas Treaty 

Addressing Global Commons Challenge: 

• Resource Overexploitation: Provides a framework to combat threats like plastic pollution and overfishing threatening high seas ecosystems. 

• Environmental Impact: Mitigates human-induced impacts such as pollution and habitat destruction through enhanced governance and regulation. 

Complementing UNCLOS: 

• Role: Acts as an implementing agreement under UNCLOS, filling gaps in biodiversity conservation and sustainable resource management. 

• Legal Framework: Facilitates the creation and management of MPAs, promoting sustainable practices and equitable resource use. 

Combatting Emerging Threats: 

• Deep-sea Mining: Addresses risks associated with deep-sea mining activities, ensuring sustainable exploitation of marine resources. 

• Plastic Pollution: Provides guidelines for reducing marine pollution and enhancing ecosystem resilience against climate change impacts. 

Strengthening International Cooperation: 

• Institutional Framework: Establishes mechanisms for international cooperation and decision-making on high seas governance. 

• Capacity Building: Supports developing countries in marine technology transfer and capacity building for sustainable ocean management. 

India’s Role and Benefits 

Global Leadership: 

• Commitment: India’s endorsement highlights its commitment to global ocean governance and biodiversity conservation. 

• Strategic Position: Enhances India’s maritime influence and leadership in regional and international environmental diplomacy. 

Domestic Policy Alignment: 

• Policy Integration: Requires alignment with India’s maritime policies, enhancing environmental assessments and regulatory frameworks. 

• Blue Economy: Supports India’s Blue Economy goals through sustainable resource utilization and biodiversity conservation efforts. 

Economic Opportunities: 

• Benefit-Sharing: Access to marine genetic resources under equitable terms promotes scientific research and economic opportunities in biotechnology and pharmaceuticals. 

• Sustainable Development: Promotes sustainable fisheries and marine tourism, contributing to economic growth while preserving marine ecosystems. 

Other Related Conventions 

Convention on Continental Shelf (1964): 

• Defines rights to explore and exploit natural resources beyond national jurisdictions, ensuring equitable resource management. 

Convention on Fishing and Conservation of Living Resources of the High Seas (1966): 

• Addresses overexploitation risks of living marine resources through conservation measures and sustainable fishing practices. 

London Convention (1972) and MARPOL Convention (1973): 

• Address marine pollution from ships and dumping of wastes, ensuring marine environmental protection and sustainable resource use. 

Way Forward 

Global Cooperation: 

• Ratification: Encourages countries to ratify the High Seas Treaty for its effective implementation and enforcement globally. 

• Monitoring and Evaluation: Establishes monitoring frameworks to track progress in achieving conservation and sustainability goals. 

Sustainable Practices: 

• Innovation: Promotes technological advancements for sustainable fishing, waste management, and marine ecosystem restoration. 

• Education and Awareness: Enhances public awareness on marine conservation and sustainable use practices to support treaty objectives. 

Conclusion 

The High Seas Treaty represents a landmark in global efforts to protect marine biodiversity and ensure sustainable use of high seas resources. India’s endorsement signifies its commitment to ocean conservation and leadership in global environmental governance, contributing to sustainable development and biodiversity conservation worldwide. 

Mains Question: 

1. Discuss the significance of the High Seas Treaty (BBNJ Agreement) in addressing global challenges related to marine biodiversity conservation and sustainable resource management (150 WORDS)