AT the ongoing United Nations General Assembly in New York, Nigeria has advocated urgent action to establish fully protected marine areas covering at least 30 percent of global oceans by 2030.
Minister of State for Environment, Dr Iziaq Salako made the call at the High-Level event on High Ambition for High Seas holding in the margins of UNGA.
He said, “We all know that the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Treaty is the only international agreement available for establishing marine protected areas outside national boundaries. West Africa is on a clear path towards ensuring we are proactive and equipped to designate the first generation of highly and fully protected marine protected areas in the high-seas.
In the sub-region, we are acutely aware of how fast our oceans are being drained of their ability to support us. We know healthy oceans are essential for our region and we recognise with deep concern that our oceans are affected by processes far beyond our national boundaries.”
Calling for urgent action, Salako said, “I have said it a number of times, each time with more urgency and today with much more urgency, the BBNJ Agreement will enable us to highly and fully protect at least 30 percent of the world’s oceans by 2030 by establishing enormous marine protected areas in the global ocean.
“We cannot afford to wait and I am proud to announce that Nigeria is committed to continue working with the 15 other ECOWAS countries and other ambitious countries, most them here present to seek the designation of effective marine protected areas in the global ocean.
“We must hit the ground running the very moment the BBNJ Agreement comes into force because we are already behind. We must act immediately and use mechanisms approved in the BBNJ Agreement to establish highly and fully protected MPAs covering at least 30 percent of the global ocean by 2030.”
The signing of the BBN Agreement began on September 20, 2023 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. The agreement will remain open for signature until September 20, 2025.
The BBNJ Agreement will enter into force 120 days after the 60th instrument of ratification, approval, acceptance, or accession is deposited.
