As the North Pole melts due to global warming, five nations, including the United States and Russia, have agreed to ban commercial fishing in the Arctic. The new agreement prohibits commercial fishing activities in an area of the central Arctic Ocean measuring 1.1 square miles in size, larger than the Mediterranean Sea.
The Arctic Ocean is not controlled by any governmental authority, making enforcement of regulations challenging to impossible. However, this new agreement would not be the first pact to restrict fishing activities in international waters.
An international agreement reached in 1994 limited fishing of pollock in the "donut hole" lying between the territorial waters of the United States and Russia. Uncontrolled harvesting in the Bering Sea had previously endangered the stocks of the fish, threatening populations of wildlife.
"Russia and the U.S. persuaded other countries to sign the Central Bering Sea Pollock Agreement that closed this area to fishing until scientific data and management measures could ensure a sustainable fishery. Unfortunately, the damage was done and the area remains closed to fishing today," The Pew Charitable Trusts reported on its website.
The United States, Russia, Canada, Norway and Denmark (signing for Greenland) signed the pact in Oslo on July 16.
As global warming continues, polar regions are increasingly affected by rising temperatures. There is currently no significant fishing taking place in this region of the northern-most ocean. However, as ice melts, commercial vessels could soon be prowling those icy waters, potentially posing significant hazards to marine life.
Arctic cod are among the regional species that have environmentalists most concerned. This animal plays a crucial role in the ecosystem of the region.
"To that end, the five countries stated in the declaration that they intend to authorize their vessels to conduct any future commercial fishing in this area only once one or more international mechanisms are in place to manage any such fishing in accordance with recognized international standards. They also intend to establish a joint program of scientific research with the aim of improving understanding of the ecosystems of this area," the U.S. State Department reported on its website.
The United States originally proposed the agreement in fulfilment of previous agreements to help protect the Arctic from fishing. The agreement was promoted by the Pew Charitable Trusts, among other nongovernmental organizations.
In the Bering Sea, overfishing and exploitation by crews from Japan, Korea, China and Poland had already resulted in serious damage to fish populations before the 1994 accord was reached. Environmentalists hope that this new agreement works as a preventative measure, protecting fish populations before commercial fishing has a significant effect. Populations of Arctic cod are already in danger in some areas of the world.
