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Ocean biodiversity: The writing's on the wall and we need to act fast
As an archipelagic state, Indonesia needs to take a direct lead in protecting marine areas in the high seas by ratifying the United Nation’s BBNJ Agreement and incorporating its management as part of its Vision 2045.
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Into the deep: A diver enjoys the beauty of coral reefs on May 6, 2024 in the waters off Tomia Island, Wakatobi regency, Southeast Sulawesi. The provincial tourism agency and the Wakatobi administration have been collaborating to promote marine tourism in the area despite the absence of flights to Tomia. (Antara/Jojon)
T
he biodiversity of the planet's oceans is in a critical state, similar to that on land. Acidification, deoxygenation and global warming continue to plague our oceans at an alarming rate. Additionally, pollution, including plastic waste, shipping impacts, offshore mining and unsustainable large-scale fishing pose significant risks to the health of our oceans.
In April 2023, scientists from the United States’ National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) found that the average temperature of the world’s oceans (excluding arctic oceans) had reached a record high of 21.1 degrees Celsius, surpassing the previous record of 21 degrees in 2016.
This indicates the hastening impact of climate change on our oceans.
Ocean warming caused by climate change has the potential to disrupt ocean circulation patterns by as much as 42 percent by 2100.
The deteriorating state of the world's oceans prompted the 2022 Convention on Biological Diversity in Montreal to set the “30x30 target”, which aims to protect 30 percent of the world's oceans and land by 2030.
Achieving this goal may be challenging, however, especially considering that the high seas, which represent 61 percent of the world's waters, have long been overlooked.
After decades of negotiations, 70 United Nations member countries, including Indonesia, signed a historic agreement on Sept. 20, 2023 at the UN Headquarters in New York on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction. Better known as the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement, more than 80 countries have signed this agreement as of May 2024.
