High Seas Treaty
★ It is formally known as the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement.
★ It is a legally binding international treaty.
★ The treaty was adopted in June 2023 and opened for signature in September 2023, it requires ratification by 60 countries to enter into force.
★ As of June 13, 2025, 50 countries have deposited their ratifications, with 10 more needed for the treaty to come into effect.
★ India signed the treaty in September 2024 but has not yet ratified it.
★ The treaty’s main goal is to conserve and sustainably use marine biological diversity in the high seas.
★ The treaty will be implemented under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
★ The BBNJ Agreement aims to conserve and sustainably use marine biological diversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction, which are beyond the 200 nautical miles of Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs).
3rd UN Ocean Conference held in Nice, France
★ The Third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3) was held in Nice, France, from June 9 to 13, 2025.
★ Co-hosted by France and Costa Rica, it was a crucial global gathering focused on accelerating action to conserve and sustainably use the ocean, aligning with Sustainable Development Goal 14 (SDG 14): Life Below Water.
★ Theme: “Accelerating action and mobilizing all actors to conserve and sustainably use the ocean.”
★ Main Goal: To support the implementation of SDG 14, which is currently one of the least funded SDGs.
★ Significance: 19 additional countries formally ratified the High Seas Treaty during the conference, bringing the total number of ratifications to 50 nations.
