India Unlikely to Ratify ‘High Seas Treaty’ at U.N. Ocean Conference

1. UPSC Syllabus Mapping

GS Paper II – International Relations
- Important International Institutions, treaties, and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.
- Effect of policies of developed and developing countries on India’s interests.
GS Paper III – Environment and Biodiversity
- Conservation, environmental pollution, degradation.
- Ocean governance, blue economy, and marine biodiversity.

2. News in Short

India, despite signing the UN's 'High Seas Treaty' (BBNJ agreement) in September 2024, is unlikely to ratify it soon. The delay is due to the need for domestic legal amendments, particularly to the Biological Diversity Act, and unresolved issues on resource sharing. The treaty aims to protect marine biodiversity in international waters. India is advocating for equitable benefit sharing and a legally binding Global Plastics Treaty at the ongoing UN Ocean Conference in Nice, France.

3. Why in News?

India signed the BBNJ (High Seas Treaty) in September 2024.
But ratification is pending due to:
- Need to amend domestic laws (e.g., Biological Diversity Act).
- Unresolved negotiation issues, especially over resource sharing.
The UN Ocean Conference is being held in Nice, France (June 2025).
As of June 10, only 49 countries have ratified; 60 needed for legal force.

4. Detailed Explanation of the News

The BBNJ Treaty aims to govern marine biodiversity beyond national jurisdictions (i.e., high seas).
India supports ocean conservation but is cautious due to concerns over:
- Equitable sharing of marine resources.
- Technical challenges in deep-sea mining.
India also:
- Showcased Samudrayaan, a manned submersible to reach 6,000m depth (trial in 2026).
- Highlighted $80 billion Blue Economy investments.
- Called for a Global Plastics Treaty.
- Launched SAHAV, a digital ocean data portal for marine conservation transparency.

5. Explanation of Concepts & Provisions

Concept/Provision	Explanation
BBNJ Treaty / High Seas Treaty	A UN agreement to protect biodiversity in marine areas beyond national jurisdiction, including conservation and sustainable use of resources.
High Seas	Areas of the ocean beyond Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) that no country owns; governed by international law (UNCLOS).
Biological Diversity Act, 2002	Indian law to conserve biodiversity, regulate access to biological resources, and ensure equitable benefit sharing.
Samudrayaan Mission	India’s first manned deep ocean mission under Deep Ocean Mission aiming to reach 6,000m depth.
Blue Economy	Sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods, and ocean ecosystem health.
Global Plastics Treaty	Proposed international agreement to regulate plastic production, use, and waste globally.