The Department of Agriculture–Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR) launched the 61st Fish Conservation Week in Quezon City on September 16, 2024. The event highlighted the agency's commitment to uniting stakeholders for sustainable fisheries development under the "Bagong Pilipinas" (New Philippines) vision. In her speech, DA Undersecretary for Fisheries Drusila Esther E. Bayate emphasized the importance of collaboration across all sectors to sustainably protect the country’s fisheries resources. She described the event as a campaign for all Filipinos to unite for a sustainable fishery, urging everyone to support government programs to achieve these goals.

Source: BFAR

To protect the marine life that is often caught as bycatch, a campaign led by local and international conservation NGOs, local fishers, and tourism groups came out with a co-signing letter by more than 100 international scientists urging the government to halt the issuance of longline fishing licenses. This stance against harmful yet efficient fishing methods demonstrates that the Maldives sets an example for other countries on how to balance fishing income with ocean health and environmental protection.

Source: https://www.worldfishing.net/fisheries/maldives-permanently-bans-longline-fishing/1496133.article

The Maldives signed the BBNJ Agreement on 3 September 2024 as its 92nd signatory. On the behalf of the Maldives, the Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Dr Ali Naseer Mohamed, signed the Agreement at a ceremony held in the United Nations Headquarters in New York.

In 2015 the United Nations General Assembly decided to develop a legally binding instrument relating to the protection and sustainable use of marine biological diversity and areas beyond national jurisdiction. Following this, the substance of the instrument was compiled in the years between 2016 and 2023, and the legal instrument was adopted on 19 June 2023 at the General Assembly in the form of an Agreement. 

On 11 February 2024, the Cabinet of Ministers concluded to sign and ratify the Agreement and submitted the case to the People’s Majlis on 29 February 2024 for parliamentary approval. On 13 May 2024, the People’s Majlis gave the consent to be a party to the Agreement. 

Where the protection of the biodiversity within the territorial sea of the Maldives is a significant responsibility of the Maldives, this responsibility includes ensuring the area beyond its national jurisdiction and the biological diversity contained within are protected and sustainably used. 

To that end the Agreement signed today sets up a procedure to establish large-scale marine protected areas. The Agreement contains marine technological transfer mechanisms and formalities relating to fighting climate change. As these are important to the protection of the territorial sea, the Maldives stands to gain significant benefits from being a party to this Agreement. Until the signing of the Agreement by the Maldives, 91 countries had signed the Agreement while 8 countries have ratified the Agreement. The Agreement is open for signature by all countries until 20 September 2025 and will enter into force 120 days after the 60th country has ratified the Agreement.

Source: www.foreign.gov.mv