Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 28 September 2023
47. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs for an overview of the Treaty on Marine Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction which he recently signed on behalf of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41871/23]
View answerThe UN Agreement on Marine Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction ("BBNJ") was adopted by consensus at the United Nations on 19 June 2023. It was opened for signature in New York on 20 September and Ireland was among the first countries to sign on that day. Signature is subject to ratification.
The objective of the BBNJ Agreement is the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction, through effective implementation of the relevant provisions of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and closer international cooperation and coordination. The BBNJ Agreement, in broad terms, aims to close significant gaps in global ocean governance by providing a framework to enhance protection of the marine environment.
A crucial feature of the agreement is a global mechanism for establishing marine protected areas (MPAs) in areas beyond national jurisdiction, namely the high seas and deep seabed. These areas comprise two thirds of global ocean space but only 1% are presently protected by MPAs, far short of what is envisaged by the “30 by 30” target of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework agreed at the Convention on Biodiversity COP15 in December 2022.
In addition to its provisions on MPAs, the agreement will strengthen the global regime for the conduct of environmental impact assessments (EIAs) for activities that may have an impact on the marine environment in areas beyond national jurisdiction. Furthermore, the agreement makes provision for a benefit sharing mechanism in respect of marine genetic resources (MGRs) and contains provisions on capacity building and technology transfer to support developing countries.
Ireland participated actively in the negotiations as part of the EU negotiating team. The agreement has the potential to significantly improve the protection of the global marine environment, and Ireland is committed to working with the international community to realise its full potential.
