UN Convention On Law Of The Sea

UN Convention On Law Of The Sea

Subject: Environment

Section: Biodiversity

Context- United Nations members negotiate instrument under UN Convention on Law of the Sea to conserve, sustainably use marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction.

Concept-

• The fourth meeting of the Intergovernmental Conference (IGC-4) is underway March 7-18 in New York.
• The IGC-4 is convening under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. And this particular meeting is to conclude a draft of the instrument on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction, also referred to as BBNJ.
• This meeting was scheduled in 2020 but had to be postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• BBNJ encompasses the high seas, beyond the exclusive economic zones or national waters of countries.
• This new agreement on BBJN has been under negotiation for the last 20 years. The current meeting is expected to finalise the draft for signing.

About UN Convention on Law of The Sea:

• The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), 1982 is an international agreement that establishes the legal framework for marine and maritime activities.
• It is also known as Law of the Sea.
• It divides marine areas into five main zones namely-
  • Internal Waters,
  • Territorial Sea,
  • Contiguous Zone,
  • Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and
  • the High Seas.
• It is the only international convention which stipulates a framework for state jurisdiction in maritime spaces. It provides a different legal status to different maritime zones.
• It not only zones coastal states’ offshore areas but also provides specific guidance for states’ rights and responsibilities in the five concentric zones.
• India is a state party to the UNCLOS.