Arctic FAQ

Why an International Fisheries Agreement Is Needed in the High Arctic

Here are answers to frequently asked questions about the Pew Environment Group’s Oceans North International campaign to develop a precautionary international fisheries agreement that would prevent overfishing in the unregulated waters of the Central Arctic Ocean.


The Arctic Ocean

What are the international waters of the Central Arctic Ocean?

The Arctic Ocean is encircled by the coastal states of Canada, U.S., Russia, Greenland and Norway. Waters within 370 kilometers (200 nautical miles) of shore are the Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) of these countries. But beyond that lies 2.8 million square kilometers (1.1 million square miles) of international waters that are not currently governed by any international fisheries agreements or management measures.

How fast is the ice melting in the Central Arctic Ocean?

The summer of 2007 saw the lowest ice extent on record for the Arctic Ocean and subsequent years have also been well below levels predicted only a few years ago. A major concern is that the ice is also getting thinner, making it more susceptible to another rapid loss. Although the summer ice extent will continue to fluctuate, the overall downward trend is clear. Some predict that we may see an ice-free summer by the end of this decade.

When was the last time this area was free of permanent ice?

Sea ice has been a feature of the Arctic Ocean for at least 47 million years. The best current estimates are that there has been at least some sea ice year-round in the Arctic for at least 800,000 years. In other words, the species that thrive in the Arctic today have evolved with sea ice as a constant, reliable feature of their environment.

Isn't the Central Arctic Ocean a biological desert with few fish anyway?

The Arctic Basin is low in nutrients, but at its margins are continental shelves where fish are likely to be found. Fish stocks from neighboring EEZs could move into international waters and be caught, potentially undermining domestic management efforts. Fish in the Central Arctic Ocean are also highly susceptible to overfishing because of low productivity. When fish are removed, it will take a long time to replace them. The presence of ringed seals, polar bears and beluga whales in this area may mean they are finding food – something that commercial fisheries could undermine. If there are “hot spots” of fish such as Arctic cod, they could be easily scooped up by fishing nets. The rapid pace of biological change in the Arctic means a cautious approach is best right now.


The International Waters of the Central Arctic Ocean

What does the phrase "international waters of the Central Arctic Ocean" refer to?

The international waters of the Arctic Ocean is the 2.8 million square kilometers (1.1 million square miles) in the Central Arctic Ocean beyond the EEZs of the five Arctic coastal states.

Even though part of the area is ice-free in September, isn't commercial fishing still decades away?

Melting pack ice means there are fewer physical barriers to fishing in the Central Arctic Ocean. In the summer of 2007, 40 percent of the Central Arctic Ocean was open water. Much of this was on the Pacific side of the Arctic within range of offshore fleets from Pacific Rim nations. If commercial fishing starts before adequate scientific knowledge is available and appropriate management measures are in place, it would pose a major threat to an ecosystem already stressed by climate change.

Isn't this area too far away for commercial fishing boats to travel?

Not at all. Fleets of large factory processors range the world for protein sources. For example, factory trawlers from Chinese ports travel 12,000 kilometers (7,500 miles) to catch krill near Antarctica. It’s only 8,000 kilometers (5,000 miles) from China to the part of the central Arctic Ocean that was ice-free in 2007.

Arctic Fishing Regulations

Isn’t it premature to discuss a fisheries agreement for international waters in the central Arctic Ocean when the final boundaries are still being argued over by Arctic coastal states?

No. The boundary for international waters in the Arctic is already set as the ocean beyond the EEZs of the five coastal states. Several of these countries are submitting claims to extend their continental shelves, but this applies only to the seabed. For the purposes of commercial fishing, the water column in the Central Arctic Ocean will remain international waters regardless of the outcome of these claims.

How can fishing begin in the Central Arctic Ocean without an international agreement or regulations?

Unless an international fisheries agreement is in place, the high seas are open to fishing. The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), a binding agreement ratified by 161 countries, empowers regulation of fisheries in international waters through regional agreements negotiated between countries. That’s what’s needed in the international Arctic.

How can countries legally exercise control over fisheries in the Central Arctic Ocean?

The conventional approach to managing fisheries in international waters is for countries to negotiate multilateral agreements. Arctic states should take the lead and initiate that process for the Central Arctic Ocean. A key element is to ensure that fishing levels are initially set at zero to prevent damage from exploratory fishing in the absence of scientific data.

Aren’t new agreements unnecessary because countries ban their own vessels from fishing in high seas areas unless there’s a fisheries agreement or management system in place?

No. Neither international law nor national laws preclude fishing boats from entering the Central Arctic Ocean. The simplest and most practical way to prevent commercial fishing from starting in this region is an international fisheries agreement.

Why suggest a new international Arctic fisheries agreement when the Arctic Council is already in place?

Founded in 1996, the Arctic Council provides an important high-level forum where Arctic countries and indigenous peoples can discuss issues -- but not make binding decisions. The Arctic Council does not manage resources directly and is not authorized or financed to oversee international fisheries. The conventional way under international law to develop a new management regime where none exists is through an international fisheries agreement. By preventing commercial fishing from starting in international Arctic waters, such an agreement would preserve options for developing effective fisheries management in the future.


New Solutions

Are there any northern models for international fisheries agreements that could be applied in the Central Arctic Ocean?

Yes. In the 1980s, unregulated fishing by Poland, South Korea, Japan and other countries in the international waters of the Bering Sea severely undermined pollock stocks in just a few years. Russia and the U.S. persuaded these nations to sign the Central Bering Sea Pollock Agreement to close this area to fishing until scientific data and management measures ensured a sustainable approach. Unfortunately, the damage was done and the area remains closed to fishing today.

Which countries agree that a precautionary fisheries agreement is needed before fishing starts in the Central Arctic Ocean?

In December 2009, the United States closed its Arctic waters in the Beaufort Sea to commercial fishing until scientific research can assess the rapidly evolving marine environment. In adjacent waters, Canada is considering a plan to prevent development of commercial fishing in the Beaufort Sea until scientists and the Inuvialuit can ensure the sustainability of any proposed fisheries. The European Union has adopted policies that recommend no commercial fishing in the Central Arctic Ocean until new international arrangements can be negotiated

What is the Pew Environment Group’s Oceans North International campaign doing to work towards an international fisheries agreement in the Central Arctic Ocean?

We are working with representatives of Arctic coastal states, scientists, the fishing industry and indigenous peoples to achieve expanded support for an agreement that will protect the international waters of the central Arctic Ocean and their living marine resources by:

• Prohibiting commercial fisheries until the parties agree otherwise.
• Fostering an international scientific research program to establish a baseline of information about fish and other living marine resources.
• Developing conservation and management measures to ensure that commercial fishing will begin only if it can be conducted sustainably.
• Establishing robust monitoring and enforcement to gauge the success of the agreement.