The Maldives has officially signed the United Nations High Seas Treaty, also known as the Agreement on Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ), marking a major step towards conserving international waters and protecting ocean biodiversity. The treaty was signed by the Maldives Permanent Representative to the UN, Ali Naseer Mohamed, on behalf of the country, as announced by Minister of Climate Change, Environment, and Energy Thoriq Ibrahim on the social media platform X.
A Step Towards Equity and Sustainability
The UN High Seas Treaty is designed to ensure equity, address environmental degradation, and promote sustainability. It plays a crucial role in combating climate change and preventing biodiversity loss in international waters. As reported by Xinhua News Agency, the agreement aims to promote fairness in the use of marine resources and strengthen global efforts to conserve ocean ecosystems that lie beyond national jurisdictions.
Minister Thoriq Ibrahim called the signing a “historic breakthrough” for the Maldives and described it as a significant milestone in the conservation and sustainable use of the country’s ocean resources.
Maldives Becomes the 92nd Signatory
With the signing, the Maldives joins 91 other UN member states in committing to the treaty’s objectives. Local media reports that the Maldives’ government had been planning this step since February 11, when the cabinet decided to sign the treaty. The Maldivian parliament gave its approval on May 14.
Commitment to Ocean Conservation
Minister of Foreign Affairs Moosa Zameer, in a separate post on X, highlighted that the signing reflects President Mohamed Muizzu’s dedication to safeguarding the Maldives’ rich oceanic resources. As a small island nation highly dependent on marine ecosystems for both food and tourism, the Maldives has long been a vocal advocate for stronger international ocean protection measures.
Read More : Udupi Consumer Forum Rules on Gold Loan Recovery
