St. Lucia Signs Historic UN Agreement Protecting Marine Biodiversity
UNITED NATIONS – St. Lucia has signed the agreement on the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction.
Prime Minister Phillip J Pierre signing High Seas Treaty (UN Photo)Prime Minister Phillip J. Pierre became the sixth world leader to sign this agreement on the margins of the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
A St. Lucia government statement said that the ocean plays a critical role in the economy and regulating climate and is also designed to ensure marine resources in areas beyond national jurisdiction is commonly called the “high seas” are preserved against increasing human and natural threats.
“For Small Island Developing States like St. Lucia, this agreement provides a framework for a fair and equitable receipt of benefits from the utilization of marine resources in the high seas, as well as capacity building and transfer of marine technology,” the statement said.
The statement said having participated in the negotiations of this treaty, St. Lucia is amongst one of the first countries to sign this agreement.
“This demonstrates the government of Saint Lucia’s continued commitment in leading the global effort for advancing the development of resilient ecosystems, covering both land and marine based resources,” the statement added.
