Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdulla Shahid has urged all states to uphold their commitments to ensure the effective implementation of the ‘High Seas Treaty’.

On Monday, the Maldivian minister delivered a statement in the Further Resumed Session of the Fifth Session of Intergovernmental Consultations (IGC) on an Internationally legally binding instrument 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, in New York, United States of America.

Also known as the ‘Treaty of the High Seas’, the ‘BBNJ Treaty’ was adopted at this session.

In his statement, FM Shahid shed light on the importance of such a treaty, highlighting that it provides a framework for operationalizing the equity principles of the UN Law of the Sea Convention into practice.

Further, he stated that this instrument would significantly lessen the conservation-related burden on Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and assist in the reduction of ocean regime inequity, particularly in areas of marine scientific research and sharing of benefits from utilizing marine genetic resources in Areas Beyond National Jurisdictions.

The foreign minister also emphasized that it was specifically vital for nations like the Maldives, in the forefront of the climate emergency while concurrently being the custodians of huge oceanic expanses with limited resources.

He went on to urge all states to uphold their commitments and work collectively towards effective implementation of the treaty.

Held with the help of the UN, the Intergovernmental Conference on Marine Biodiversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction carries the purpose of considering the recommendations of the Preparatory Committee established by resolution 69/292 of 19 June 2015 on the elements and to elaborate the text of an international legally binding instrument under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction.