BBNJ Agreement A Major Step Towards Sustainable Ocean Resource Management

Monday 16 December 2024 - 16:01

The BBNJ Agreement, focused on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction, marks a significant milestone in the protection and sustainable management of ocean resources. The agreement is seen as a critical tool for addressing the challenges facing marine ecosystems and ensuring that marine biodiversity is preserved for future generations.

At a regional workshop in Rabat, the Moroccan Secretary of State for Maritime Fisheries, Zakia Driouich, highlighted Morocco’s active role in fostering a unified African vision for this agreement. This vision includes creating marine protected areas, ensuring fair sharing of marine genetic resources, and establishing mechanisms for evaluating environmental impacts. Driouich also emphasized Morocco’s commitment, under the leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, to promoting an inclusive and sustainable blue economy and enhancing regional cooperation.

One key initiative that stands out is Morocco’s Royal Initiative, which aims to provide landlocked African nations with strategic access to the Atlantic Ocean. This vision, based on solidarity and inclusive development, seeks to overcome geographical constraints and strengthen regional cooperation, allowing these countries to fully benefit from the opportunities the ocean economy offers.

The European Union’s representative, Daniele Dotto, acknowledged the significant contributions of African states to the development of the BBNJ Agreement and praised the Seychelles for being the first African country to ratify it. He also announced the EU’s commitment to supporting sustainable biodiversity use in the high seas through a six-year, €40 million "Ocean" program. This program will focus on providing technical assistance to developing countries to help them ratify and implement the BBNJ Agreement, in addition to supporting national and regional efforts on ocean governance, blue economy, and marine ecosystem conservation.

The Resident Coordinator of the United Nations System in Morocco, Nathalie Fustier, emphasized that the BBNJ Agreement represents an essential tool for advancing the global Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. She also underscored that the agreement’s adoption after two decades of negotiations highlights the importance of multilateralism and international cooperation in addressing global environmental challenges.

Charlotte Salpin, from the UN Office of Legal Affairs, praised Morocco for its leadership in coordinating the African group on marine capacity building and technology transfer. She also noted that the active participation of African states in the agreement’s development has ensured that key issues for Africa, such as marine resource access and the fair sharing of benefits, are addressed.

The workshop, organized by the UN Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea, brought together over 120 participants from African coastal and landlocked countries along the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean, alongside experts and stakeholders from international and regional organizations. The goal was to enhance understanding of the BBNJ Agreement, identify the institutional and legal needs for its effective implementation, and support states in their preparations for ratification.

This initiative is part of broader international efforts to strengthen sustainable ocean governance, and it reflects the growing global recognition of the need for collaborative action to safeguard marine biodiversity and ensure the sustainable use of ocean resources.