Maldives ratifies high seas treaty and Minamata Convention

Maldivian Foreign Minister Moosa Zameer, on Tuesday, has deposited the Instrument of Ratification for the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement) and the Instrument of Accession for the Minamata Convention on Mercury on behalf of the Maldives.

The Instrument of Ratification and Instrument of Accession was deposited during an event held at the United Nations headquarters in New York.

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu sought parliamentary approval to join the Minamata Convention on Mercury on December 11, 2023, and the approval to sign the BBNJ Agreement on February 11^th.

Parliament approved both the Agreement and the Convention on May 13.

Maldives signed the BBNJ Agreement on September 3^rd.

Maldives just became the 9th State Party to #HighSeas Treaty.

I look forward to the entry of force of this Treaty which would bring about numerous benefits to global biodiversity conservation efforts.

Calling on other States to join the #RaceForRatification of the… pic.twitter.com/jAtEF39M7P

— Thoriq Ibrahim (@Thoriqibrahim) September 24, 2024

With the deposition of the Instrument of Ratification and Instrument of Accession on Tuesday, Maldives has become the 8th country to ratify the BBNJ Agreement and the 150th country to accede to the Minamata Convention on Mercury,

BBJN Agreement was formulated to facilitate the conservation, preservation, and sustainable utilization of the biodiversity and territorial waters of the High Seas. It also represents a significant international endeavor to safeguard marine ecosystems within the High Sea.

Minamata Convention on Mercury aims to protect the environment and human health from anthropogenic emissions and releases of toxic heavy metals. It regulates the entire life cycle of mercury – its supply, trade, use, emissions, releases, storage, and management of waste and contaminated sites. 

Commenting following the deposition of the Instrument of Ratification and Instrument of Accession via a post on X, Environment Minister Thoriq Ibrahim, who also attended the ceremony,  expressed hope that the BBNJ Agreement would bring about numerous benefits to global biodiversity conservation efforts.

He also said Maldives, as a party to the Minamata Convention on Mercury, aims to contribute to implementing this agreement, to help reduce global mercury pollution over the coming decades.