Namibia yet to signg lobal agreement on marine biodiversity

Namibia has not signed a new global agreement aimed at protecting marine biodiversity in international waters yet.

The agreement, adopted in June 2023, seeks to address growing threats such as climate change, pollution, and overfishing in areas beyond national jurisdiction.

It is called the Agreement on Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction.

The agreement was established under the auspices of the United National Convention on the Law of the Sea and has been open for signature by all state and regional economic integration organisations from 20 September 2023 until 20 September this year.

Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources spokesperson Uaripi Katjiukua on Tuesday confirmed that Namibia has not signed the agreement.

She said the ministry is, however, in consultation with relevant stakeholders to determine the country’s position.

“The most prominent stakeholder on this would be the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism,” she said.

The agreement will come into force once it gets 60 instruments of ratification, approval, acceptance or accession.

Thus far, only 10 countries have ratified the agreement, while 91 countries have signed it.

The rationale behind the establishment of the agreement was that nearly two thirds of the ocean, along with its unique species and ecosystems, are in areas beyond national jurisdictions.

Marine biodiversity areas beyond national jurisdictions encompass the high seas beyond the exclusive economic zones or national water of countries.

However, fragmented legal instruments have left biodiversity in these areas vulnerable to the ever-growing threats of climate change, plastic pollution, oil spills, over-fishing, habitat destruction, ocean acidification and underwater noise.

Namibia has been representing the African continent in international open-ended negotiations towards the establishment of this agreement.

At its 11th Conference of the Parties held in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, in 2017, the Abidjan Convention made a call that parties to the convention should support global efforts towards the establishment of the agreement.

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