Maldives says hstoric UN agreement will boost fisheries
Previously, only 1.2% of the international oceans were protected.
By
Shahudha Mohamed
Fisheries ministry said on Monday that the High Seas Treaty, which was agreed upon by UN member states on Saturday, will further strengthen the country's fisheries industry.
Every country has the right to fish, travel and study in international waters not covered by 'High Seas' or any country's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
Under the agreement, a large part of these seas will be protected and countries will lay down specific rules to be followed in those areas.
Here are some of the things countries have agreed upon in the High Seas Treaty:
-
Protecting 30% of the international oceans by 2030; discussions on how and in what areas to do so are still underway
-
Reduce the permissible limit for fish consumption and set aside specific routes for sea faring
-
Determine how to distribute marine life or resources among countries; these can be used for cooking, medicine development, and other purposes
-
Make assessments based on the impact of environmentally harmful activities such as underwater mining on the natural environment
Following the agreement, fisheries minister Dr Hussain Rasheed Hassan told Atoll Times on Monday that most of the tunas in demand in the Maldivian fisheries markets enter the Maldives from the international waters.
"The high seas are exploiting a lot of the fish. The result is that stocks are falling and falling," he said.
"For example, long-distance migratory skip jack tuna is not always within the EEZ. They go everywhere. For that reason, we also need to ensure that the nature of fishing in the high seas is also controlled and regulated."
The minister said the agreement was very important for a country like the Maldives. He said that the high seas treaty would increase the number of fish in the country's economic zone if fishing norms were put in place and indiscriminate fishing and other harmful fishing practices were curbed.
With this, the minister noted that the country will benefit immensely economically.
Fisheries ministry Director Hussain Sinan, who represented Maldives in the talks held at the UN headquarters, told Atoll Times that in addition to the increase of fish in the seas, the agreement will bring a lot of benefits to the Maldives.
Some of the things he pointed out:
-
Under the agreement, the benefits of marine life and resources will be distributed under a separate framework
-
For example, if the 'sea sponge' taken from the international oceans contains a medical drug-making substance, the benefits can be shared with countries and can be useful to protect the oceans
-
The Treaty is the first to state the situation of developing small island countries like the Maldives at an international level
-
Capacity building and sharing of marine technology will be prioritised under the pact for countries like Maldives
-
All countries should know the findings of the EIA process to assess the environmental impacts of work in international oceans
-
The Maldives may refuse to allow such activities in the event that something outside the country's economic waters is likely to cause serious damage to the environment
Previously, only 1.2% of the international oceans were protected. As a result, these oceans are misused and too much fish is is caught that affects the conservation of the environment, leading to overcrowding of vessels in some areas, causing serious damage to the life in these oceans.
Many countries have pointed out the need for such an agreement at a time when human behaviour is being shaped and climate change is having a negative impact on the environment.
There is a fear that 10% of marine life will be wiped out due to excessive fish consumption and ocean contamination, and it is very important to allow the marine life to grow copiously, to reproduce in a safe environment. The most vulnerable species are sharks, whales, and shellfish species such as abalone.
