Representatives from five different nations met in Norway this week to sign a new declaration to wori to prevent unregulated commercial fishing in areas of the Arctic Ocean.
Officials from Canada, Norway, the Russian Federation, the United States and Denmark met in Oslo on 16 July to sign the declaration. All five nations – Denmark by way of Greenland – collectively surround the Arctic Ocean.
A statement from the U.S. State Department said while the nations acknowledged the high seas portion of the ocean is so remote it is unlikely any fishing will be happening there right now, but there is still a need for such a declaration.
“The dramatic reduction of Arctic sea ice and other environmental changes in the Arctic, combined with the limited scientific knowledge about marine resources in this area, necessitate a precautionary approach to prevent unregulated fishing in the area,” the department said in its statement.
The nations agreed not to allow their vessels to fish in that area until international regulations are in place managing commercial fishing in the region. The countries also agreed to establish a joint research program to learn more about the area’s resources.
