IMA facilitates National Stakeholders at the High Seas Alliance to Raise Awareness on BBNJ
Dr. Ava Maxam, IMA Director, delivering her speech on “GORTT collaboration for Realising Opportunities for Trinidad and Tobago in the High Seas” at the High Seas Alliance BBNJ Workshop, July 17, 2025.
As the High seas Alliance continues to work closely with the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago towards signing and ratification of the BBNJ High Seas Treaty, the IMA is pleased to facilitate the collaboration process. Dr. Ava Maxam, Director of the Institute of Marine Affairs, opened with partner remarks at the High Seas Alliance Workshop themed, “Realising Opportunities for Trinidad and Tobago in the High Seas”, held at Radisson Hotel, Port of Spain on July 17, 2025.
Trinidad and Tobago’s socio-economic development and climate resilience are inextricably linked to the health of our oceans, which provides essential marine resources and offers numerous benefits. It provides vital marine resources (food security and pharmaceutical resources), supports livelihoods of coastal communities, serves as a source of income (supports fisheries and tourism sectors) and renewable energy, plays a significant role in our cultural identity and ecologically, regulates our climate and are vital for marine biodiversity. With an Exclusive Economic Zone comprising approximately 75,000 square miles or fifteen times its land area size, 25% of Trinidad and Tobago’s Exclusive Economic Zone – the ocean under its control – is adjacent to the Area Beyond National Jurisdiction (ABNJ). Protecting and sustainably managing the ocean and marine environments and resources is not just an environmental responsibility, but also a critical factor for the twin-island’s economic prosperity and social well-being.
Senator Dr. The Honourable Kennedy Swaratsingh, Minister of Planning, Economic Affairs and Development, delivered the Feature Address and brought greetings on behalf of the GORTT. Minister Swaratsingh emphasized the need for personal accountability in our stewardship of the marine environment. He reiterated the importance of collaboration at higher levels ensuring that Trinidad and Tobago’s voice is heard in building climate resilience across the region.
Adopted by the United Nations in June 2023, the BBNJ Agreement, officially titled, “Agreement under 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”, officially opened for signing and ratification since September 2023, will become legally binding 120 days after the 60th country has ratified and approved the BBNJ Agreement.
Signing the BBNJ Agreement not only realises opportunities for Trinidad and Tobago in the high seas, but also strengthens ocean governance and builds climate resilience to address the adverse impacts of climate change, which continues to pose a significant risk to Trinidad and Tobago and the region.
Recent scientific studies demonstrate that ocean health continues to decline as it is constantly under threat. Marine biodiversity is adversely impacted from land-based sources of pollution, marine litter, oils spills and overfishing to name a few and, from external sources such as ocean warming and climate change caused by excessive greenhouse gas emissions. According to a report written by Professor Judith Gobin, recently retired from the Department of Life Sciences of The University of the West Indies, more than 95% of the ocean remains unexplored which means that many new species are yet to be discovered in the deep sea. In fact, deep sea biodiversity is at high risk of being lost before it can even be fully explored.
In addition, damaging activities and loss of biodiversity, taking place in areas beyond national jurisdiction, have the potential to adversely affect coastal waters and communities. One such example is the Sargassum seaweed proliferation and influx, which illustrates the ecological connectivity between Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction and coastal communities. Originating thousands of miles away, the seaweed makes landfall in copious masses along beaches situated on the eastern coasts of both Trinidad and Tobago, adversely impacting tourism, recreational and fishing industries – bringing harm to lives and livelihoods with every new inundation. Sargassum is a daily, and very tangible reminder to us, that things which occur in areas very far away, do matter. That out-of-sight certainly should not mean out-of-mind. The BBNJ Agreement gets to the crux of these beliefs. Sargassum however is just 1 example among the myriad of pollutants transported including Sahara dust, microplastics, hydrocarbons, invasive species, excessive nutrients.
The Agreement’s area-based management tools and environmental impact assessment provisions are primarily focused on protecting and safeguarding ocean and marine resources, Trinidad and Tobago joins the region in acknowledging that a healthy and well-managed ocean is essential for sustainable development. And indeed, this Agreement is also about sustainable use. The Agreement addresses the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from use of marine genetic resources from areas beyond national jurisdiction as well as capacity building and technology transfer to ensure that all parties to the Agreement are well equipped to exercise their rights and fulfil their responsibilities under the Agreement.
According to Dr. Ava Maxam, “the BBNJ High Seas Treaty marks a new global chapter for ocean governance and is of utmost significance for Trinidad and Tobago. Protecting and sustainably managing the ocean and its resources are not just an environmental responsibility, but also a critical factor for our economic prosperity and well-being. Protecting our marine environments in the High Seas and deep sea is paramount. That is why Trinidad and Tobago must continue discussing the need to sign and ratify the BBNJ Agreement. Trinidad and Tobago needs to have a seat at this table.”
In concluding, Dr. Maxam emphasized the importance of signing the Agreement as it highlights Trinidad and Tobago’s steadfast dedication to not only safeguarding marine biodiversity but also conserving the world’s oceans, which is recognized as the common heritage of humanity. She also used the platform to recognise the Institute of Marine Affairs’ Dr. Kahlil Hassanali, who has been working diligently with members or representatives of the CARICOM’S Negotiating Team at the 2023 Intergovernmental Conference on Marine Biodiversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction and who continues collaborating with many of the region’s experts.