What Is the Importance of the High Seas Biodiversity Treaty?

June 10, 2024

Director general of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), spoke on World Oceans Day, June 8, 2024, about how important it is for everyone to work together to make the High Seas Biodiversity Treaty a reality. This call to action was emphasized in a statement asking countries to help with the approval process so that this important law can go into effect.

Importance of the Treaty

The High Seas, which make up about two-thirds of the ocean’s surface, are controlled by many countries but not by anyone. Even though they have a lot of different kinds of plants and animals, these ocean places are not well protected. The goal of the proposed treaty is to set rules for actions and protect people in these huge areas that don’t have complete legal systems yet.

Current Status of the Treaty

The BBNJ Agreement was officially approved by governments and made available for signatures on September 20, 2023. Countries around the world have shown different levels of commitment to it. In mid-2024, 90 countries had signed, which was a sign of preliminary acceptance. Still, only seven had finished the process of ratification, which is what is needed for it to become an international law that can be enforced.

The Ratification Challenge

The treaty can’t go into force until at least 60 countries agree to it. The low rate of approval makes it very hard to put into action. More countries need to go from agreement in theory (signing) to formal consent (ratification), as Aguilar’s call makes clear.

Associated Challenges and Calls for Action

Aguilar not only pushed for the treaty but also talked about environmental problems that were connected to it, like fishing methods that aren’t sustainable and the proposed ban on deep-sea mining, both of which are harmful to marine life. She stressed how important it was to keep fighting for the world’s ocean supplies on a scientific, legal, and moral level.

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