Previously many vast areas of the Arctic seas were permanently covered with ice, but with global warming more and more areas are becoming ice free in summer. This makes these international waters accessible to commercial fishing. Predictions now are that the regions will be ice-free in summers in just
Arctic nations have control over waters out to 200 nautical miles from their shores, but beyond that the international waters are unregulated.
The concern for many is that very little is known about numbers and species of fish stocks in these unregulated waters, as well as such things as reproduction rates, movement and so on.
In 2012, more than 2,000 scientists from 67 countries called for a moratorium on commercial fishing in the Arctic until more research is completed
With ice-free unregulated waters, commercial ships could come in and scoop out vast quantities of fish, and very probably destroy a fishery in just a matter of years. Many have called on more research to find out exactly what the resources are and their viability, before fishing would be potentially allowed.
Negotiators from the US, Denmark (representing Greenland), Canada, had agreed to a preliminary idea of a moratorium in the international waters, and had hoped to bring Norway, and Russia onside.
However, as meetings wrapped up, there was no agreement on a full moratorium.
Late on February 27, Leona Aglukkaq,Canada’s environment minister, and Gail Shea, fisheries minister, issued a joint statement saying they found the discussions in Greenland “encouraging.” The statement went on to say “We appreciate the level of attention the Arctic Ocean Coastal States are devoting to this issue,” the statement said. “It is imperative that we take a leadership role to prevent unsustainable fishing in the Arctic Ocean high seas.”
Previously,Scott Highleyman, international Arctic director of the Pew Environmnetal Group in the US, had said that mandating research before far reaching fishing nations like China and Japan arrive is a unique chance to “fix something before it becomes a big problem” noting that waiting could lead to disastrous consequences.
The Nuuk chairman’s statement says officials agreed to promote, “scientific research and to integrate scientific knowledge with traditional and local knowledge with the aim of improving understanding of the living marine resources of the Arctic Ocean and the ecosystems in which they occur.”
The statement was couched in diplomatic terms suggesting a level of appeasement to some members.
It said for example that officials agreed on the desirability of developing interim measures to deter unregulated fishing, but did not define what such measures might be.
It went on to say that the coastal states in question can still engage in commercial fishing in those areas beyond their economic zones so long as it’s done under a regional fisheries management arrangement “in accordance with modern international standards.”
The final note also said other nations might have interest in the subject and may seek to participate in a broader discussion before the end of 2014. Since the five nations have no jurisdiction over the international waters, other countries must be involved to make any potential regulations work
They also agreed to promote cooperation with relevant scientific bodies and to hold a third scientific meeting no later than the end of 2015.
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