The government is to seek approval from the People’s Majlis, to sign 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 Treaty).

This was decided by President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu after a meeting with his Cabinet of Ministers on Sunday.

The decision was based upon deliberations on a paper submitted by the Ministry of Climate Change, Environment and Energy.

The government initially reached the decision to sign the BBNJ treaty during the previous administration of former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, during November 2023.

The BBNJ Treaty is the most productive global initiative initiated to protect the biological diversity of marine ecosystems in open seas beyond the national jurisdiction, to date.

Its main objective is to ensure the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction, for the present and in the long term, through effective implementation of the relevant provisions of the United Nations Convention on Law of the Sea and further international cooperation and coordination.

Active participation in such a treaty is imperative to promote the protection and sustainable management of maritime domains, with Maldives being a small island nation.

To date, the treaty has 83 signatory nations.