Namibia delays accession to UN High Seas Treaty pending capacity assessment

Namibia has not yet acceded to the United Nations High Seas Treaty, stating it will only do so once it has the capacity to implement its provisions and fully benefit from marine biodiversity protections beyond national jurisdiction. Graca D’Almeida, director of marine ecosystems and marine research at the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform, explained that international agreements come with obligations, and Namibia wants to ensure it can fulfill these before joining. She emphasized that Namibia recognizes the importance of international cooperation for sustainable ocean management, citing its collaboration with Angola and South Africa through the Benguela Current Convention. D’Almeida highlighted that the High Seas Treaty focuses on areas beyond national jurisdictions, which require capacity building to ensure Namibia can benefit from the agreement. A national committee, including stakeholders from the Ministry of Works and Transport and the Ministry of Environment and Tourism, has been established to assess the advantages and challenges of joining the treaty and determine potential benefits. The High Seas Treaty came into force on January 17 after receiving 60 ratifications. Namibia welcomed the treaty in principle, acknowledging its potential contribution to global efforts to protect and conserve the high seas. Since Namibia did not sign the treaty at its adoption, it can now only join through accession. Marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jur