Informal Meeting of the UNGA Plenary to Commemorate the 40th Anniversary of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)

Thank you, Mr. President.

    Let me begin by congratulating you for organizing this informal plenary meeting of the General Assembly to mark the 40th Anniversary of the adoption of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, the UNCLOS. I take this opportunity to thank keynote speakers who addressed today’s informal plenary: the President of the 3rd UN Conference on the Law of the Sea; the President of ICJ; the Secretary General of the International Seabed Authority; and the Chair of the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf.

2.    The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, together with the related Agreements, represents a major achievement in codification and progressive development of international maritime law. The international law, as reflected in the UNCLOS, sets out the legal framework applicable to all activities in the oceans, including countering illicit activities at sea.

3.    The International Sea-bed Authority, the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea and the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf established under the Convention are important institutions for the implementation of the provisions of the Convention and to the realization of benefits from the uses of the seas.

4    The maritime domain is our shared joint heritage and international sea routes are the lifeline of global trade.  But today this shared heritage is facing many challenges including territorial water disputes, ocean pollution, climate change, man-made disasters, overfishing and misuse of sea routes for piracy and terrorism are some of the challenges. In this context, the 40th anniversary of adoption of the UNCLOS, is a solemn occasion for the international community to re-commit framework of the Convention, in its letter and spirit.

Mr. President,

5.    History remembers that India has been a unique seafaring nation with a unique maritime position. Thousands of years ago, the Lothal port of Indus Valley Civilization in the West Coast India was linked to international maritime trade. Moreover, we have a long coastline of more than 7,500 km or about 4600 miles, 9 of its 29 states are coastal, and India has thriving marine ecosystem in its 1,382 islands. We have 199 ports, including 12 major ports that handle approximately 1,400 million tons of cargo each year. Our Exclusive Economic Zone spreads over 2 million square kilometers and is the third largest producer of marine fish in the world. 

6.    India is an active participant in all multilateral efforts developing a collective management of ocean affairs and one of the early parties to UNCLOS. India is also party to the Agreement relating to the Implementation of Part XI of the Convention; Fish Stocks Convention, 1995;the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, or

MARPOL 1973/1978; the International Ballast Water Convention of 2004 that protects invasive aquatic Alien species; the London Convention of 1972 and other agreements that regulate various activities in the maritime domain, including the conservation and sustainable use of ocean resources. Further, India has actively participated and contributed to the discourse on the Marine Biodiversity of Areas Beyond the National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) process leading the 4th Session of the Intergovernmental Conference on evolving an international,legally binding instrument under the UNCLOS on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction, held in March 2022.

7.    India is acutely aware of the challenges and opportunities that oceans represent- from undertaking sustainable fisheries to prevention and control of marine litter and plastic pollution, from affordable renewable energy to eco-tourism and early warning systems for disaster risk reduction and management, building resilience and adaptation to climate change.

8.    India is a strong proponent of the “Blue Growth” as a part of the long-term strategy to support sustainable growth in the marine and maritime sectors. India has also articulated its own comprehensive Blue Economy policy framework, which aims to cover the coastal economy, tourism, marine fishery, technology, skill development, shipping, deep-sea mining, and capacity building in a holistic manner. The objective of the Blue Economy has been to promote smart, sustainable, and inclusive growth and opportunities within the Indian Ocean region’s maritime economic activities and initiate appropriate programmes for the sustainable harnessing of ocean resources,research, and development.

9.    Indian scientists collaborate in research stations on the Arctic Ocean studying its links with climate in our own region, especially the Himalayas. Indian hydrographers collaborate with our maritime partnersin the Indian Ocean Region and beyond in their capacity building efforts. Indian institutions work closely with regional partners in improving early warning systems for tsunamis and cyclones. Indian naval ships are deployed for delivery of humanitarian assistance and emergency evacuation as also in patrolling sea-lanes against pirates and other illegal activities.

10.     India remains committed to address the challenges of complex humanitarian emergencies through building disaster resilient infrastructure. In this context, India has taken the initiative to launch the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) in partnership with several other countries.

Mr. President,

11.     India during its presidency of the UN Security Council in August 2021, organized an Open Debate on Maritime Security. The meeting was chaired by Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi himself and had participation from Heads of State and Governments and Foreign Ministers from Member-States. On this occasion, the UN Security Council issued a first Presidential Statement on this subject with a holistic view of UNCLOS, terrorism, freedom of navigation, piracy, trans-national crimes and other illicit activities, trafficking in arms, human and others, and calling for strengthening international and regional cooperation, including capacity building. 

12.    I would like to recall the five cardinal principles on international maritime security proposed by my Prime Minister to preserve and use of our common maritime heritage, which are very pertinent on this occasion:

• First, we must remove barriers from legitimate maritime trade. The prosperity of all of us depends on the active flow of maritime trade.In today's context, India has defined the vision of SAGAR – (Security and Growth for All in the Region) – based on this open and inclusive ethos. Through this vision, we want to create an inclusive structure of maritime security in our region. This vision is of a Safe, a Secure and a Stable maritime domain. Free maritime trade also requires that we fully respect the rights of each other's sailors.
• Second, the settlement of maritime disputes must be peaceful and on the basis of international law only. This is very important for mutual trust and confidence. It is only through this that we can ensure global peace and stability.
• Third, we must face natural disasters as well as maritime threats created by non-state actors together.We have been the first responder in maritime disasters related to cyclone, tsunami and pollution. The Indian Navy has been patrolling in the Indian Ocean since 2008 to prevent piracy.India's White Shipping Information Fusion Center is increasing shared maritime domain awareness in our region. We have provided training in Hydrographic Survey Support and Maritime Security to many countries. India’s role in the Indian Ocean has been as a Net Security Provider.
• Fourth, we have to preserve the maritime environment and maritime resources. India has launched an ambitious "Deep Ocean Mission". We have also taken several initiatives to encourage sustainable fishing.
• Fifth, we must encourage responsible maritime connectivity. For this we must make proper global norms and standards.

Mr. President,

13.    In conclusion, India as one of early signatories toUNCLOS, reaffirms its commitment to UNCLOS as the Convention completes four decades. 

I thank you.

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