Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has demonstrated Bangladesh's resolute commitment to conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction by officially signing the 'Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction' (BBNJ) Treaty at the United Nations headquarters in New York on Wednesday (NY time).
This groundbreaking treaty solidifies the country's unwavering commitment to the responsible extraction and equitable utilization of deep-sea resources. The accord carries a series of pivotal provisions that compel signatories to adhere to stringent regulations, including the prohibition of resource extraction in designated Marine Protected Areas.
Among the treaty's key elements are the facilitation of capacity building and technology transfer to empower developing nations in their pursuit of deep-sea resource extraction. It also places an emphatic emphasis on averting overfishing, mandatory environmental impact assessments, and robust measures to combat marine pollution. Moreover, it underscores the essential nature of investment in research and development endeavors.
Under United Nations regulations, a country's sovereign rights extend up to 350 nautical miles from its coastline. Within this territory, nations possess exclusive jurisdiction over resources, both within and beneath the water, for the first 200 nautical miles. Beyond this boundary, other nations gain entitlement to extract floating resources, signaling a cooperative approach to responsible resource management.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's historic endorsement of the BBNJ Treaty exemplifies the country's unwavering commitment to global stewardship of the deep sea and its invaluable resources, aligning firmly with international norms and regulations. This significant move marks a pivotal step towards a more sustainable and equitable future for deep-sea resource utilization on a global scale. The “BBNJ Treaty” is an international agreement on the
conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction. This new instrument was developed within the framework of the United Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the main international agreement governing human activities at sea. It will achieve a more holistic management of high seas activities, which should better balance the conservation and sustainable use of marine resources.
On 19 June 2023 the Treaty of the High Seas was adopted by consensus during the United Nations meeting in New York. This treaty is key to protect the ocean, promote equity and fairness, tackle environmental degradation, fight climate change, and prevent biodiversity loss in the high seas.