Sri Lanka’s Urgent Need to Ratify the Global Ocean Treaty for Sustainable Future
Sri Lanka is at a crucial crossroads when it comes to environmental protection, especially the safeguarding of its ocean biodiversity. With global attention increasingly focused on marine conservation and climate change, Greenpeace has called on Sri Lanka to ratify the Global Ocean Treaty – a landmark international agreement designed to protect marine ecosystems, particularly in areas beyond national jurisdictions.
As the country faces mounting environmental challenges, the treaty offers a vital opportunity to ensure the sustainability of Sri Lanka’s ocean resources. However, despite this global push for marine protection, the country has yet to commit to ratifying the treaty.
The Global Ocean Treaty
The Global Ocean Treaty, negotiated under the auspices of the United Nations, aims to protect biodiversity in the high seas – marine areas that fall beyond national jurisdiction and make up over two-thirds of the world’s oceans. The treaty’s objectives include creating large protected marine areas, enforcing sustainable management practices and establishing legal frameworks to preserve marine biodiversity. Given the vastness of the high seas and their critical role in regulating the planet’s climate, these protections are seen as essential in combating the dual threats of climate change and biodiversity loss.
The treaty has garnered significant international support, especially among countries that rely heavily on marine ecosystems. South Asian nations such as India, Bangladesh, and the Maldives have taken historic steps to ratify the treaty, recognising its importance for both environmental protection and the livelihoods of millions who depend on the oceans for their income.
Sri Lanka’s Delayed Action
Despite the progress made by neighbouring countries, Sri Lanka has yet to ratify the Global Ocean Treaty. As an island nation, Sri Lanka is particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change, including rising sea levels, ocean acidification and the loss of marine biodiversity. Moreover, the country’s economy is heavily dependent on sectors like fisheries and tourism, which rely on the health of marine ecosystems. The depletion of fish stocks, degradation of coral reefs, and increasing levels of marine pollution have already started affecting local communities.
Greenpeace South Asia Campaigner in Sri Lanka, Anita Perera, highlighted the urgency of the situation in a recent article in the Sunday Observer, stating, “India, Bangladesh, and the Maldives have taken historic steps to ratify the Global Ocean Treaty, and Sri Lanka too should follow suit rather than being left out.” She pointed out that previous political leadership in Sri Lanka had been reluctant to engage with the treaty, despite multiple requests from environmental groups and international bodies. The new administration, led by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, presents an opportunity to change course and take a leadership role in ocean conservation.
Lack of Implementation
Despite its vulnerability, Sri Lanka has been slow to implement comprehensive marine conservation policies. Several factors contribute to this lag, including political instability, a lack of coordinated environmental policies, and insufficient funding for conservation efforts. While the country has made some strides in creating marine protected areas (MPAs) around its coastline, these efforts are often poorly enforced due to limited resources and corruption.
Moreover, Sri Lanka’s reliance on unsustainable fishing practices has further complicated conservation efforts. Over-fishing, the use of destructive fishing gear like bottom trawlers, and illegal fishing practices have severely depleted marine resources.
The country has also faced significant issues with marine plastic pollution, which not only threatens marine species but also impacts human health through the food chain.
Sri Lanka’s hesitation to ratify the Global Ocean Treaty has raised concerns among environmental advocates. As quoted in the Sunday Observer, Avinash Chanchal, Campaign Manager at Greenpeace South Asia, stressed the importance of Sri Lanka joining its neighbours in ratifying the treaty: “India, the Maldives, and Bangladesh have shown international leadership for marine biodiversity conservation, as this new treaty will allow the creation of large protected areas in the high seas, beyond 200 nautical miles from the coastlines.”
The treaty’s protections for the high seas are particularly significant for Sri Lanka, as many of the country’s most important fisheries operate in these waters. Without comprehensive protections, these ecosystems will continue to degrade, leading to further economic and environmental crises.
Future Expectations
Looking ahead, environmental advocates and conservationists are calling for Sri Lanka to not only ratify the Global Ocean Treaty but also take concrete steps towards implementing marine conservation policies. According to Greenpeace, one of the most important aspects of the treaty is its provision for creating large marine sanctuaries, which will allow ecosystems to recover from decades of over-fishing and pollution.
“Such large sanctuaries in the high seas will allow the recovery of marine life, increase its resilience to climate change, and support the livelihoods of millions of people in the region,” Chanchal noted in the Sunday Observer. For Sri Lanka, the creation of such sanctuaries could provide long-term benefits, helping to stabilise fish stocks, boost eco-tourism, and mitigate the effects of climate change on coastal communities.
In addition to ratifying the treaty, Sri Lanka will need to focus on improving its enforcement of existing marine protections. This will require greater investment in the Department of Fisheries, enhanced monitoring of marine activities, and stronger penalties for illegal fishing practices. Collaboration with international conservation organisations will also be crucial in providing the expertise and resources needed to manage marine protected areas effectively.
The Role of the New Government
With the election of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, Sri Lanka has the opportunity to reposition itself as a regional leader in marine conservation. Greenpeace’s Perera emphasised the importance of taking swift action in the recent Sunday Observer article: “This request was done on many occasions, but it was not heeded by the then political leadership, and Greenpeace Southeast Asia expects President Dissanayake to take a lead in joining this initiative.”
The new government must prioritise the ratification of the Global Ocean Treaty as part of its environmental agenda. This would not only bring Sri Lanka in line with its South Asian neighbours, but also signal the country’s commitment to global efforts to combat climate change. President Dissanayake’s administration should also focus on strengthening domestic environmental policies, particularly those related to marine
conservation and sustainable fisheries management.
In the broader context, Sri Lanka’s ratification of the treaty could help set the stage for regional collaboration on ocean protection. India and other South Asian countries are already taking steps to create a unified approach to marine conservation, and Sri Lanka’s participation in this effort could enhance regional stability and environmental resilience.
Sri Lanka stands at a critical juncture in its approach to marine conservation. The ratification of the Global Ocean Treaty would represent a significant step forward in safeguarding the country’s ocean biodiversity and supporting global efforts to combat climate change. With the support of the new government, Sri Lanka can join the growing number of nations committed to protecting the world’s oceans for future generations.
As Perera noted in the recent Sunday Observer article, “While most other South Asian countries are committing to ocean protection, it is important that Sri Lanka, as an island nation, also steps in.” Now is the time for decisive action to ensure the long-term sustainability of Sri Lanka’s marine resources.
Kommentare