At UN Ocean Conference, India unlikely to ratify ‘High Seas Treaty

• India’s ratification of the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) agreement, also known as the ‘High Seas Treaty’, is unlikely at the United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice, France.
• The agreement, signed in September 2024, requires amendments to certain laws, including the Biological Diversity Act, before proceeding.
• As of June 10, 49 countries have ratified the treaty, with 60 countries to complete the process.
• The treaty’s contentious aspect is the sharing of resources, as the high seas are not under the exclusive economic zones of any single country.
• India’s progress on Samudrayaan, its manned submersible mission, and its national ban on single-use plastics are highlighted.
• India launched the ‘SAHAV’ digital ocean data portal at the conference, highlighting its leadership in global marine conservation efforts.