Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Agreement: Deep Sea Mining
Question
Feryal Clark
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what guidance his Department issues on the compatibility of deep sea mining with the United Nations High Seas Treaty.
Answer
The UN Agreement on Marine Biodiversity in Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement) will be open for signature on 20 September 2023 and enter into force after sixty countries become parties. The UK will sign early, ratify, and help lead its implementation and support others to do so. The UK has committed not to sponsor or support the issuing of any exploitation licences for deep-sea mining projects unless and until there is sufficient scientific evidence about the potential impact on deep-sea ecosystems and strong and enforceable environmental regulations and standards have been developed by the International Seabed Authority and are in place. The UK's approach is precautionary and conditional.