Perspective- High Seas Treaty | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly - UPSC PDF Download

Introduction

• After more than a decade of negotiations aimed at safeguarding the vast high seas, which constitute nearly two-thirds of the global ocean and lie beyond the jurisdiction of any single nation, UN member states recently reached a historic agreement on a treaty to protect marine life in these international waters. This landmark agreement, formally known as the Biodiversity beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Treaty, is set to be officially adopted at a later date. It represents a crucial step toward achieving the global objective of conserving 30% of the world's oceans by 2030, as agreed upon during the 2022 UN biodiversity conference. 
• Despite covering more than 60% of the Earth's oceans and nearly half of its surface, the high seas have received considerably less attention compared to coastal waters and a few iconic species. Ocean ecosystems are essential for human survival, generating approximately half of the oxygen we breathe and mitigating global warming by absorbing a significant portion of the carbon dioxide emitted by human activities. However, they face numerous threats, including climate change, pollution, and overfishing. The High Seas Treaty will require countries to conduct environmental impact assessments for proposed activities in these areas and establish mechanisms for sharing marine genetic resources found in international waters.

All about the Treaty

• The BBNJ Treaty, also known as the Treaty of the High Seas, is an international agreement focused on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction, currently undergoing negotiations at the United Nations.
• This new treaty is being developed within the framework of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the primary international treaty governing human activities at sea.
• It aims to promote more comprehensive management of activities in the high seas, striking a balance between the conservation and sustainable utilization of marine resources.
• BBNJ encompasses the high seas, which extend beyond countries' exclusive economic zones or national waters.

Significance

• According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), these areas cover "almost half of the Earth's surface."
• Despite their vastness, these regions are poorly regulated and relatively unexplored in terms of biodiversity, with only 1% currently protected.

Importance of High Seas:

• The high seas encompass vast expanses of open ocean and deep seabed areas beyond any nation's jurisdiction, covering approximately half of the Earth's surface and 64% of the global ocean area.
• While rich in biodiversity, these areas are among the least protected on our planet.
• They are home to unique and often unknown species, including deep-sea fish and invertebrates adapted to extreme environments.
• Migratory species such as whales, seabirds, sea turtles, tunas, and sharks depend on the high seas for crucial habitat and resources.
• Comprehensive protection of endangered species and habitats requires measures to safeguard the high seas.
• The ocean plays a critical role in global climate regulation, with about 90% of global warming occurring in its depths.
• Protecting the high seas is integral to achieving the global conservation target of protecting 30% of the world's land and sea by 2030, known as "30 by 30."
• The treaty has implications for societal benefits, including pharmaceuticals and food, and can contribute to reversing biodiversity loss and promoting sustainable development.
• The negotiation of the high seas treaty has underscored the North-South divide, highlighting disparities between resource-rich and resource-poor nations in benefiting from high seas activities.

Conclusion

The newly established treaty will enable the creation of marine protected areas within international waters, enhancing resilience to climate change and safeguarding marine biodiversity. Additionally, it will require countries to assess the environmental impacts of proposed activities in the high seas.