A number of coastal states and deep-sea fishermen have officially joined the Arctic Ocean Agreement, which will enter into force on June 25. The Agreement to Prevent Unregulated Fishing in the International Arctic Ocean, more commonly known as the Arctic Ocean Agreement, was signed in October 2018. Currently coastal states: Canada, Denmark, Greenland, Norway, Russia and the US and distance fishing operators EU, Iceland, Japan, South Korea and finally China have ratified the agreement.
- I am very pleased that the Arctic Ocean agreement is a reality. This clearly means that the parties to the agreement are serious about managing the living marine resources that can be found there, says Minister of Fisheries and Seafood, Odd Emil Ingebrigtsen.
The new regional fisheries management agreement covers this 2,8 million km2 international sea area
Most of the Arctic Ocean lies below the coastal states of Canada, Norway, Russia, the United States, and Denmark on behalf of Greenland. But there is an area in the middle of the Arctic Ocean that is international waters. This new regional fisheries management agreement covers this 2,8 million km2 international sea area - an area larger than the Mediterranean Sea. Coastal states and deep-sea fishing operators The EU, Iceland, Japan, China and South Korea have signed an agreement to prevent unregulated fishing in the international Arctic Ocean.
This agreement is a unique preventive measure on an international scale
The area is now covered with ice most of the year and there is no commercial fishing there. Fishing may become possible as the ice sheet diminishes in the coming decades.
“It is admirable that so many countries have agreed to take action before there is a problem. The deal is an internationally unique preventative measure as it solves the problem before it occurs, says Ingebrigtsen.
Arctic Ocean Agreement. Neither party may start fishing in the Arctic Ocean on its own without the consent of the other party
The agreement implements recognized management principles. It does not prohibit commercial fishing in the international Arctic Ocean, but obliges the parties not to allow their own fishermen to fish here until international management measures are in place. This means that neither party may independently engage in fishing activities in the Arctic Ocean without the consent of the other party. The parties will now establish a joint research and monitoring program within two years, and agree on a set of rules for trial fishing within three years. The term of the contract is 16 years, renewable if neither party objects to it.
