South Africa takes the next step to protect the high seas
High Seas Treaty approved for ratification
SOUTH AFRICA: Cabinet has approved the submission of the Agreement on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biodiversity Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement) to Parliament for ratification.
This comes after the country signed the BBNJ Agreement, also known as the High Seas Treaty, at the United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC) in France last year. The Agreement is a legally binding United Nations instrument designed to promote the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in international waters.
South Africa played an active role in negotiating the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. The BBNJ Agreement is expected to strengthen global ocean governance by enhancing international cooperation in the protection and sustainable management of marine resources in international waters.
The Agreement has been signed by 148 countries and ratified by 90.
The BBNJ Agreement lays the foundation for coordinated, science-based, and equitable stewardship of areas beyond national jurisdiction. It also emphasises equity, by ensuring that all States, including those with limited resources and infrastructure, can participate meaningfully, and that benefits derived from marine science and resources are shared fairly.
The entry into force of the Agreement signals a collective commitment to restore the health, resilience, and productivity of marine ecosystems, which are vital for biodiversity, climate regulation, food security, and human well-being. For the first time, States will be obliged to cooperate to fill knowledge gaps, regulate activities with potential impacts on the high seas, incorporate both science and traditional knowledge in decision-making, and share the benefits of ocean science and innovation more equitably.
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