Union Cabinet has approved India to sign the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement, also known as the High Seas Treaty. The Ministry of Earth Sciences will spearhead its implementation.
BBNJ Agreement
- Name: It is formally called the Agreement on Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction.
- Under UNCLOS: It is an international treaty under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
- Objective: To ensure the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction, for the present and in the long term.
What are High Seas?
- Definition: High seas are areas outside the national jurisdiction of any country.
- Typically, national jurisdictions extend up to 200 nautical miles (370 km) from the coastline, an area called Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
- Global Commons: High Seas constitute about 64%, roughly two-thirds, of the total ocean area and are considered global commons.
- They belong to no one, and everyone enjoys equal rights for navigation, overflight, economic activities, scientific research, or laying of infrastructure like undersea cables.
