Mongabay Newscast
Don't call it the ‘high seas treaty’: New oceans agreement should center biodiversity, expert says
Episode guests
Podcast summary created with Snipd AI
Quick takeaways
- The BBNJ agreement aims to enhance marine biodiversity protection but struggles with inadequate enforcement power and governance coordination issues.
- Labeling the agreement as the 'high seas treaty' risks prioritizing resource extraction over biodiversity, potentially harming equitable benefit sharing for developing nations.
Deep dives
Overview of the High Seas Treaty
The High Seas Treaty, officially known as the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement, aims to establish a regulatory framework for marine biodiversity that extends beyond national jurisdictions. It acknowledges the existing governance structures for ocean management and stresses that it must not undermine the operations of organizations like fisheries management bodies or the International Maritime Organization. Despite its intention to coordinate these efforts, the treaty lacks the power to directly regulate activities such as fishing or mining, leaving the actual enforcement of conservation measures dependent on collaboration among various international organizations. This creates the potential for a fragmented and less effective system of marine protection, as there is no overarching authority to enforce consistent regulations across different sectors.
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