New Delhi, Sep 28
India has signed Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) -- an international agreement to protect marine biodiversity on the high seas, External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar informed.
Jaishankar signed the BBNJ agreement at the UN Headquarters in New York.
“Signed the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement today at the UN HQ,” he informed in a social media post on X.
“India is proud to join the BBNJ Agreement, an important step towards ensuring that our oceans remain healthy and resilient,” he added.
The agreement, an international legally binding treaty, comes under the Law of the Seas Treaty. It seeks to ensure that marine life is conserved by countries and is used sustainably on the high seas.
High seas are beyond nations' territorial waters and the exclusive economic zone that could extend up to 370 km from the shores.
The agreement, adopted internationally last year, bans destructive fishing and pollution.
It was agreed upon in March 2023, and is open for signature for two years, starting September 2023. It enters into force 120 days after the 60th ratification.