Sri Lanka Joins the Global Fight to Protect Our Oceans

Greenpeace South Asia commends the Sri Lankan Cabinet of Minister’s approval for the proposal made by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism to sign the Agreement on Biodiversity in Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ).[1] This landmark decision represents a pivotal step towards addressing the escalating threats facing our oceans due to unregulated human activities in international waters.

“We commend Sri Lanka for its leadership in prioritizing the health of our oceans, especially as Chair of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA). This move demonstrates a commitment to fostering collaboration across nations for the conservation of marine biodiversity,” said Anita Perera, Campaigner for Greenpeace South Asia.

By ratifying the BBNJ agreement, commonly known as the Global Oceans Treaty, Sri Lanka will have the opportunity to support large-scale marine protected areas, promote sustainable fisheries management, and encourage marine scientific research. This is particularly vital given the growing concerns over overexploitation, habitat degradation, and the loss of biodiversity in international waters.

The Treaty provides a robust mechanism to establish vast protected areas on the High Seas — beyond 200 nautical miles (370 kilometers) from the coastlines.[2] These zones will allow marine life to recover from industrial overfishing and pollution while fostering thriving ecosystems. A healthy ocean is essential not only for climate stability but also for sustaining the livelihoods of millions globally, including Sri Lanka’s coastal communities, fishers and seafarers.

Greenpeace South Asia also recognizes the challenges faced by developing nations like Sri Lanka, including limited financial resources and technical capacity, in implementing this landmark agreement. We strongly support the call for enhanced capacity-building efforts, resource-sharing, and international cooperation to ensure effective implementation.

Last year, Sri Lanka and the wider South Asia region faced devastating climate change impacts, including heatwaves, heavy rains, floods, mudslides, and coastal erosion. These disasters caused significant casualties and directly affected the economy. Our environment — encompassing the climate, forests, and oceans — is interconnected, with each system supporting the other. It is crucial for leaders to recognize these connections and prioritize the protection of ecosystems that can best mitigate climate change and extreme weather events.

In February 2024, Greenpeace’s iconic ship, the Rainbow Warrior, visited Sri Lanka, coinciding with the opening of the Greenpeace South Asia office in the country. This milestone marked a significant step in raising public awareness about ocean conservation and the critical importance of the United Nations’ BBNJ (Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction) Agreement

for an island nation like Sri Lanka. A series of events were organized throughout 2024, including public awareness campaigns, social media outreach, and workshops for Civil Society Organizations to empower local groups with knowledge and advocacy tools. Greenpeace facilitated letters to presidential candidates, urging the prioritization of signing and ratifying the BBNJ Agreement, which establishes a legal framework for creating networks of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) as well as Environment Impact Assessment (EIAs) standards in areas beyond national jurisdiction, ensures fair sharing of benefits from Marine Genetic Resources (MGRs), and promotes capacity building, technology transfer, and sustainable funding mechanisms for marine conservation. These efforts underscored Sri Lanka’s unique position as an island nation and its potential to benefit from enhanced marine governance under the BBNJ framework, while laying the foundation for the country’s active role in global marine conservation efforts.

The Global Ocean Treaty offers a vital opportunity to create large-scale sanctuaries on the High Seas. This decision signifies a commitment to safeguarding marine ecosystems’ resilience

— not only for today but for future generations. Greenpeace South Asia is eager to collaborate with the Sri Lankan government and other regional stakeholders to ensure the successful implementation of the BBNJ Agreement’s objectives.

Media Contact:

Gayani Punchihewa – Deputy Programme Director for Engagement / Communications-Greenpeace South Asia

Phone: +94 711 925004

Email : gayani.chathurika@greenpeace.org

Anita Perera, Campaigner at Greenpeace South Asia – Sri Lanka Phone: +94773925597

Email: aperera@greenpeace.org