India supports instrument on conservation of biodiversity

UNITED NATIONS: India has supported the process to develop an international legally binding instrument on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity and stressed that the rights of nations, including freedom of the high seas, are important and should not be restricted.

Counsellor and Legal Adviser in the Indian Mission to the UN Koteswara Rao said here that India welcomes the process to develop an international legally binding instrument under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction.

"The new instrument should encompass all marine resources in areas beyond national jurisdiction, including the marine genetic resources currently known or which may be discovered at any time in the future," he said during a General Assembly session on Monday.

"It should address issues relating to the access, exploration, exploitation, conservation and sustainable use of these resources," he added.

He said given the vastness of high seas and huge potential of the marine resources, a viable international legal regime for their conservation and sustainable use is a desirable option.

On the marine protected areas (MPAs), Rao said while there is an obligation under UNCLOS for nations to cooperate with each other in the conservation and management of living resources in the areas of the high seas,

"We believe that rights of other States, including freedoms of the high seas, are equally important and the challenge would be to arrive at an effective balance so that these rights rights are not restricted," he said.

He added that the new instrument should also take into account the ecosystem approaches, precautionary principle and the emerging best practices.