India has signed the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction, or BBNJ, — an international agreement to protect marine biodiversity on the high seas, External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar informed. Jaishankar signed the BBNJ agreement at the UN Headquarters in New York.
Signed the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement today at the UN HQ, he reported on X, social media. "India is proud to join the BBNJ Agreement: an important step toward ensuring that our oceans remain healthy and resilient," he added.
The agreement-an international treaty legally binding-comes under the Law of the Seas Treaty. The treaty aims at ensuring marine life is preserved by countries and used sustainably on high seas. High seas are beyond nations' territorial waters and the exclusive economic zone that could stretch up to 370 km from the shores. The agreement adopted internationally last year bans destructive fishing and pollution.
It was agreed on in March 2023 and is open for signature for two years, from September 2023. It will enter into force 120 days after the 60th ratification. As of now, around 100 countries have signed it, and eight of them ratified it. The Agreement states that nations do not have sovereign rights over marine resources on the high seas, and it also provides for the balanced sharing of benefits from those resources.
The Cabinet had accorded clearance for India's participation in the treaty way back in July. Jitendra Singh, Minister of State for Earth Sciences, said India's commitment and proactiveness towards the global cause of environmental conservation and sustainable development stand reaffirmed. The treaty can unlock additional strategic presence for India in areas beyond our Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and will further strengthen the efforts of India towards marine conservation.
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