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Changes in the Arctic: Background and Issues for Congress
Arctic resources because fish stocks are shared to some degree among the five adjacent
jurisdictional zones of the Arctic rim nations. Further, a large portion of the central Arctic Ocean
lies outside the Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ) of these nations. Ideally, regional management
would recognize the need to coordinate management for those fish populations that move among
these national jurisdictional zones and high seas.
For waters under U.S. jurisdiction, in 2009, the National Marine Fisheries Service in the
Department of Commerce's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration implemented the
North Pacific Council's Fishery Management Plan for Fish Resources of the Arctic Management
Area.163 The management area includes marine waters in the U.S. EEZ of the Chukchi and
Beaufort Seas.164 The plan initially prohibits commercial fishing in the Arctic Management Area
and moves the northern boundary of the Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands king and tanner crab fishery
management plan out of the Arctic Management Area south to the Bering Strait. The plan takes a
precautionary approach by requiring the collection of more information before developing
commercial fisheries in the region.
On July 16, 2015, the five nations that surround the Arctic Ocean signed a declaration to prevent
unregulated commercial fishing in the high seas portion of the central Arctic Ocean.165 The five
nations agree that a precautionary approach to fishing is needed because there is limited scientific
knowledge of marine resources in the region. Currently, there is no commercial fishing in central
Arctic Ocean and it is questionable whether existing fisheries resources could sustain a fishery.
The declaration includes the following interim measures:
" to authorize our vessels to conduct commercial fishing in the high seas area only
pursuant to one or more marine regional or subregional fisheries management
organizations or arrangements that are or may be established to manage such
fishing in accordance with recognized international standards;
" to establish a joint program of scientific research with the aim of improving
understanding of the ecosystems of this area and promote cooperation with
relevant scientific bodies;
" to promote compliance with these interim measures and with relevant
international law, including by coordinating our monitoring, control, and
surveillance activities in this area; and
* to ensure that any noncommercial fishing in this area does not undermine the
purpose of the interim measures, is based on scientific advice and is monitored,
and that data obtained through any such fishing is shared.
The declaration also recognizes the interests of indigenous peoples and the need to encourage
other countries to take actions that are consistent with the interim measures. It appears that future
management arrangements may include China, the EU, Iceland, Japan, and South Korea. Iceland
has stated it regrets that although it has repeatedly asked to participate in the collaboration, the
five states decided to keep Iceland outside consultations on the declaration.166 It remains an open
163 74 Federal Register 56734-56746, November 3, 2009.
164 The state of Alaska has jurisdiction over waters from 0-3 nautical miles from the baseline. The baseline generally
follows the shoreline.
165 The five nations include Canada, Denmark, Norway, the Russian Federation, and the United States. See
https://www.regjeringen.no/globalassets/departementene/ud/vedlegg/folkerett/declaration-on-arctic-fisheries-16-july-
2015.pdf.
166 Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Iceland, "The Position of Iceland on the Consultation on Arctic Fishing," press release,
July 24, 2015, http://arcticportal.org/library/press-releases/1524-the-position-of-iceland-on-the-consultation-on-arctic-Congressional Research Service 39
Congressional Research Service
39
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O'Rourke, Ronald. Changes in the Arctic: Background and Issues for Congress, report, August 1, 2018; Washington D.C.. (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc1248258/m1/44/: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.