The U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday approved a resolution sponsored by Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) directing the United States to work with other countries to manage Arctic Ocean fish stocks. The resolution was passed by the Senate last year and now awaits President Bush's signature.
"As ocean temperatures change and fish habitats expand northward, we may see valuable fish stocks migrate north into the Arctic Ocean," says Stevens, vice chairman of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee.
"This resolution directs the United States to pursue international agreements to stop any expansion of fishing in the Arctic Ocean until a science-based fishery management plan can be implemented," he explains. "After the president signs this resolution, I will work with the State Department to bring this issue to the United Nations."
"Alaska fishermen have worked both at home in our own waters, through the North Pacific Fishery Management Council and in international regional fishery organizations to make sure that North Pacific Ocean and Bering Sea fisheries are sustainably managed and that management is based on sound science," says Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska). "This resolution makes it clear that the United States wants this track record of sound management to continue into new areas of the Arctic Ocean if they become open to fishing."
