Environment and natural Resources secretary Rafael Lotilla. (Photo from Facebook)
Following the Senate’s ratification of the landmark High Seas Treaty, formally known as the Agreement on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biodiversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ), under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), environment secretary Raphael Lotilla tagged the move as a strong signal of the country’s commitment to safeguard our marine resources.
According to Lotilla, “with (the treaty’s) unanimous concurrence, the Senate has signified its commitment to safeguarding the nation’s marine wealth and humankind’s common heritage for the benefit of (all).”
Citing the importance of sustaining coastal communities, fisherfolk, scientists and the millions who depend on the oceans through pertinent treatises and international partnerships, the environment chief noted that the BBNJ agreement covers areas of the ocean that are not under the control of any single country—nearly half of the Earth’s surface.
“These high seas are shared spaces where nations may fish, conduct research and explore, but must do so responsibly. Under the treaty, resources such as minerals and marine life in these waters are recognized as the ‘common heritage of humankind’,” he pointed out.
Also provided are establishment of marine protected areas to safeguard biodiversity, fair sharing of benefits from discoveries such as marine genetic resourceswhich could lead to new medicines or aquaculture innovations and support for developing states, especially archipelagic nations like the Philippines through technology transfer and capacity-building.
“As one of the world’s most biodiverse archipelagos, the Philippines depends heavily on healthy seas. More than half of the country’s fish catch comes from migratory species that roam into the high seas. By ratifying the treaty, the Philippines helps secure food supply, protect marine ecosystems, and strengthen resilience against climate change,” Lotilla added.
The Philippines first signed the treaty at the United Nations General Assembly in 2023, joining 67 other countries in pledging to protect marine biodiversity. The agreement is expected to enter into force by the 2025 UN Ocean Conference.