Latest news with #BiodiversityBeyondNationalJurisdiction
Economist
20-05-2025
- General
- Economist
How to realise the opportunities for small island developing states under the BBNJ Agreement
The UN's Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement, also known as the 'high-seas treaty', provides a framework for equitable access to, and sustainable management of, marine resources in areas of the ocean beyond national territory. As significant stakeholders, small island developing states (SIDS) stand to benefit greatly from the agreement. But first they must overcome challenges related to ratification, capacity-building and implementation. Participants at this 'How to' session strategised how to help SIDS maximise the potential of the BBNJ agreement, with a particular focus on the ratification process. Discussions explored how to resolve obstacles preventing broader adoption of the treaty and how to develop incentives or mechanisms that can drive ratification among non-signatory SIDS. The workshop focused on how to transpose the agreement's provisions into national frameworks and how to create capacity-building programmes to support asset-sharing, utilise marine genetic resources efficiently and incorporate environmental impact assessments. The session examined funding models, international partnerships and the integration of traditional knowledge into marine governance. Attendees left with an understanding of the steps needed to encourage the ratification and implementation of the BBNJ Agreement and unlock its benefits for SIDS. Speakers:
Powys County Times
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Powys County Times
Attenborough film shows seabed ‘devastation' says MP in bottom trawling ban call
A Labour MP has pressed ministers to say whether they will ban bottom trawling before climate leaders meet in France next month, after Sir David Attenborough warned the fishing practice was among the most 'wasteful'. Sir David's new film Ocean features detailed footage, thought to be the first of its kind, of bottom trawling along the seabed. The camera follows large nets which are dragged along the ocean floor using a metal beam, with sea creatures indiscriminately caught inside before they are brought to the surface. Rotherham MP Sarah Champion told MPs that 'David Attenborough's latest film Ocean revealed the shocking devastation caused by bottom trawling' and referred to calls from environmental campaigners to 'take action at the UN conference in just four weeks'. At Foreign Office questions, Ms Champion asked: 'Will the Government use the conference to announce a ban on all bottom trawling in marine protected areas? 'And why has the minister still not set out when we will ratify the ocean treaty which will keep our Sids (small island developing states) and overseas territories safe?' Minister Catherine West replied: 'The climate and ocean adaptation sustainable transition (Coast) programme is improving vulnerable coastal communities' resilience to climate change including protecting and restoring coastal habitats, supporting nature-based solutions and improving small-scale fisheries management, and including the issue which she raises – the use of bottom-towed gear over rock and reef habitats in 13 Marine Management Organisation areas.' Greenpeace UK's co-executive director Will McCallum, Oceana UK executive director Hugo Tagholm and Blue Marine Foundation chief executive Clare Brook have previously written to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer urging him to prioritise ratifying the Global Ocean Treaty – also known as the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement – to conserve the high seas and help protect 30% of the world's oceans. They have also called for a full ban on bottom trawling, which they said would help marine ecosystems in UK domestic waters 'recover' from the practice's 'devastating impact'. It comes ahead of the 2025 UN Ocean Conference in June, which is being held in Nice on the Mediterranean coast. Commons foreign affairs committee chairwoman Dame Emily Thornberry, the Labour MP for Islington South and Finsbury, later told the Commons: 'I know there's a lot going on, but the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Treaty is important. 'It's about our blue planet. It's about our oceans. 'It used to be that we had a leadership position in it. In fact, when we were leading it, 115 countries signed that treaty, but it needs to be ratified as well, and very few countries are ratifying it including Britain. 'And when we ask the Government about it, the Government says it's because they haven't got enough time. Have they dropped the ball? 'Is there a Bill? Are we going to ratify it, and will we ratify it before the UN Ocean Conference?' Ms West replied: 'We will redouble our efforts to get into the legislative queue and do all (that's) necessary to ensure and maintain our leadership on this important area.' In his documentary, Sir David said the bottom trawling net moves along the seabed 'destroying nearly everything in its path', even if it is not wanted on the surface. 'It's hard to imagine a more wasteful way to catch fish,' the 99-year-old said.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Attenborough film shows seabed ‘devastation' says MP in bottom trawling ban call
A Labour MP has pressed ministers to say whether they will ban bottom trawling before climate leaders meet in France next month, after Sir David Attenborough warned the fishing practice was among the most 'wasteful'. Sir David's new film Ocean features detailed footage, thought to be the first of its kind, of bottom trawling along the seabed. The camera follows large nets which are dragged along the ocean floor using a metal beam, with sea creatures indiscriminately caught inside before they are brought to the surface. Rotherham MP Sarah Champion told MPs that 'David Attenborough's latest film Ocean revealed the shocking devastation caused by bottom trawling' and referred to calls from environmental campaigners to 'take action at the UN conference in just four weeks'. At Foreign Office questions, Ms Champion asked: 'Will the Government use the conference to announce a ban on all bottom trawling in marine protected areas? 'And why has the minister still not set out when we will ratify the ocean treaty which will keep our Sids (small island developing states) and overseas territories safe?' Minister Catherine West replied: 'The climate and ocean adaptation sustainable transition (Coast) programme is improving vulnerable coastal communities' resilience to climate change including protecting and restoring coastal habitats, supporting nature-based solutions and improving small-scale fisheries management, and including the issue which she raises – the use of bottom-towed gear over rock and reef habitats in 13 Marine Management Organisation areas.' Greenpeace UK's co-executive director Will McCallum, Oceana UK executive director Hugo Tagholm and Blue Marine Foundation chief executive Clare Brook have previously written to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer urging him to prioritise ratifying the Global Ocean Treaty – also known as the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement – to conserve the high seas and help protect 30% of the world's oceans. They have also called for a full ban on bottom trawling, which they said would help marine ecosystems in UK domestic waters 'recover' from the practice's 'devastating impact'. It comes ahead of the 2025 UN Ocean Conference in June, which is being held in Nice on the Mediterranean coast. Commons foreign affairs committee chairwoman Dame Emily Thornberry, the Labour MP for Islington South and Finsbury, later told the Commons: 'I know there's a lot going on, but the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Treaty is important. 'It's about our blue planet. It's about our oceans. 'It used to be that we had a leadership position in it. In fact, when we were leading it, 115 countries signed that treaty, but it needs to be ratified as well, and very few countries are ratifying it including Britain. 'And when we ask the Government about it, the Government says it's because they haven't got enough time. Have they dropped the ball? 'Is there a Bill? Are we going to ratify it, and will we ratify it before the UN Ocean Conference?' Ms West replied: 'We will redouble our efforts to get into the legislative queue and do all (that's) necessary to ensure and maintain our leadership on this important area.' In his documentary, Sir David said the bottom trawling net moves along the seabed 'destroying nearly everything in its path', even if it is not wanted on the surface. 'It's hard to imagine a more wasteful way to catch fish,' the 99-year-old said.
India Today
25-04-2025
- General
- India Today
David Attenborough launches new initiative to protect 30% of world's oceans
Oceans surrounding the countries of Britain, Portugal, Greece, Turkey, Mexico, the Philippines, and Indonesia are witnessing the effects of overfishing on their marine along with climate change, has become a major cause of disturbing the biodiversity of the tackle this, a new initiative is being launched by British naturalist David Attenborough to help communities profit from the efforts to protect at least 30% of the world's oceans by the decade's This initiative is led by the NGO Dynamic Planet and the National Geographic Society's Pristine Seas programme and will assist local communities in their efforts to establish "marine protected areas" in coastal waters."The worst enemy of fishing is overfishing," Enric Sala, executive director of National Geographic Pristine Seas told Reuters. Implementation of this treaty in the present year is essential to meet the global targets. (Photo: Getty) The researchers also mentioned that protecting marine areas would have economic benefits, by improving fishing yields and boosting also said Marine Protected Areas (MPA) creation has been far too slow, noting that more than 190,000 protected areas would need to be established in order to meet the "30 by 30" target - to bring 30% of the oceans under formal protection by marine life revives local economies and communities. It's time for the world to recognise that MPAs are the building blocks of the blue economy," said Kristin Rechberger, the founder of Revive Our Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement, which was signed in 2023 to protect ocean biodiversity, was signed by more than 100 countries, but ratified by just countries, except the United States, are meeting in New York this year to discuss further measures to be taken. Whereas the treaty needs ratification by 60 countries to come into force."Countries are pulling out all the stops to fast-track ratification in several places," said Rebecca Hubbard, director of the High Seas of this treaty in the present year is essential to meet the global targets, as only 8% or 29 million square kilometres of oceans are protected.
Korea Herald
20-03-2025
- Politics
- Korea Herald
S. Korea confirms ratification of UN agreement on marine biological diversity
South Korea has formally confirmed its ratification of a UN agreement on the sustainable use of marine biological diversity, becoming the first East Asian country to do so, Seoul's foreign ministry said Thursday. South Korean Ambassador to the UN Hwang Joon-kook deposited an instrument of the ratification for the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction agreement to the UN secretary-general, the ministry said in a release. The BBNJ is a legally binding agreement established in response to growing concerns over the destruction of marine ecosystems in areas beyond national jurisdiction, where no specific regulatory framework exists. It aims to create an international legal framework for the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in the high seas and deep seabed. The agreement was adopted by the UN in June 2023 and South Korea signed it in October of the same year. South Korea has become the 21st country to ratify the agreement and the first in East Asia to do so. The agreement will take effect 120 days after 60 countries ratify it. Once the agreement comes into force, it is expected to enhance marine biodiversity protection through measures such as the establishment of marine protected areas and implementation of environmental impact assessments, the ministry said. South Korea has decided to include an exception ensuring that the agreement will not apply retroactively to marine genetic resources acquired before its enforcement, a measure to minimize the impact on domestic industries and research, the ministry said. (Yonhap)
