Paper: GS – II, Subject: International Relations, Topic: International Institutions, Issue: High Seas Treaty.
Context:
The High Seas Treaty, formally known as the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) agreement, aims to establish a comprehensive framework for governing and managing marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction.
Key Takeaways:
| About UN High Seas Treaty: The UN High Seas Treaty was formally known as the Agreement on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ).It is the first legally binding international instrument aimed at protecting marine biodiversity in international waters areas that lie beyond the jurisdiction of any single country.The treaty is built on the legacy of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which is the last international agreement on ocean protection, signed 40 years ago in 1982. UNCLOS established an area called the high seas.Scope: The treaty addresses the high seas, which cover about two-thirds of the world’s oceans and nearly half of the planet’s surface.Objective: To establish a legal framework for the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in international waters, addressing regulatory gaps and promoting global cooperation. |
UN High Seas Treaty Key Provisions:
- Marine Protected Areas (MPAs): Empowers the creation and management of MPAs in the high seas to conserve marine ecosystems.
- Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs): Mandates EIAs for activities that could harm the marine environment, even if the impact is anticipated in international waters.
- Marine Genetic Resources (MGRs): Ensures fair and equitable sharing of benefits from marine genetic resources, including digital sequence information.
- Capacity Building and Technology Transfer: Supports developing countries in building capacity and accessing marine technology for conservation and sustainable use.
Major Challenges with the High Seas Treaty:
However, the treaty faces several challenges, including uncertainties over key principles, ambiguities in its provisions, the reluctance of major powers to participate, and the need for effective coordination with existing international institutions.
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