Maldives signs high seas treaty

Maldives has signed the BBNJ agreement or the high seas treaty – an agreement under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction.

The treaty was signed on behalf of the Maldives by Dr. Ali Naseer Mohamed, the Permanent Representative of the Maldives to the UN, in a ceremony held at the UN headquarters in New York, United States, on Tuesday.

In 2015, the UN General Assembly decided to develop a legally binding instrument relating to the protection and sustainable use of marine biological diversity and areas beyond national jurisdiction. Following this, the substance of the instrument was compiled in the years between 2016 and 2023, and the legal instrument was adopted on June 19, 2023 at the General Assembly in the form of an agreement.

The Maldives’ cabinet made the decision to sign the treaty on February 11, and submitted it to the Parliament for approval on February 29.

The Parliament approved the decision on May 13.

In a statement announcing the signing of the treaty, the Foreign Ministry said that where the protection of the biodiversity within the territorial sea of the Maldives is a significant responsibility of the Maldives, this responsibility includes ensuring the area beyond its national jurisdiction and the biological diversity contained within are protected and sustainably used.

It said that the treaty signed on Tuesday sets up a procedure to establish large-scale marine protected areas.

The agreement contains marine technological transfer mechanisms and formalities relating to fighting climate change.

“As these are important to the protection of the territorial sea, the Maldives stands to gain significant benefits from being a party to this agreement,” said the Foreign Ministry.

The Maldives signed the treaty as its 92nd signatory. Out of the 91 other countries that have signed it, eight countries have ratified the treaty.

The high seas treaty is open for signature by all countries until September 20, 2025, and will enter into force 120 days after the 60th country has ratified the agreement.