What It Is:
- The BBNJ Treaty is the third implementing agreement under UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea).
- It focuses on protecting marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction.
Objectives:
- Conserve marine biodiversity in the high seas.
- Ensure equitable sharing of benefits from marine genetic resources (MGRs).
- Mandate Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) for activities in international waters.
Coverage:
- Applies to oceans beyond 200 nautical miles from national Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs).
- Covers about 64% of the world’s oceans.
India’s Status
- India has signed the BBNJ Treaty but has not yet ratified it.
Why the BBNJ Treaty Is Urgently Needed
- Marine Protection Gap: Only 1.44% of the high seas are currently protected.
- Unregulated Activities: Deep-sea mining, overfishing, and marine pollution lack international regulation.
- Marine Genetic Resources: Growing biotechnological use of MGRs demands a governance framework.
- Equity: Seeks to balance ocean wealth sharing, preventing dominance by developed countries.
Challenges to BBNJ Treaty Implementation
- Low Ratification Rate: Only 21 countries have ratified out of the required 60.
- Geopolitical Tensions: Disputes in areas like the South China Sea delay consensus.
- Weak Enforcement: No strong compliance mechanisms; opt-out clauses risk weakening it.
- Overlap with Other Treaties: Potential conflict with the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).
- Financial Burden: Developing nations face challenges without assured funding support.
- Limited Scope: Excludes oil and gas exploration and pollution issues within EEZs.
Way Forward for Effective BBNJ Implementation
- Accelerate Ratification: Push for 60 ratifications before UNOC-3 in France.
- Inclusive Governance: Ensure regional and scientific diversity in decision-making.
- Dedicated Funding: Operationalize a special fund for capacity building and technology transfer.
- Integrated Ocean Management: Harmonize high seas and EEZ conservation efforts.
- Global Monitoring: Create transparent digital tools for tracking marine protection efforts.
The BBNJ Treaty represents a crucial opportunity to safeguard the high seas. However, without swift action, inclusive governance, and equitable funding, its promise will remain unfulfilled.
Protecting our oceans demands urgency, collaboration, and innovation—because marine ecosystems cannot wait.
