The Arctic Ocean is one of the planet’s pristine marine regions. But permanent ice is diminishing due to climate change, opening the international waters of the Central Arctic Ocean to commercial fishing for the first time in human history.
These waters, encompassing an area as big as the Mediterranean Sea, are not governed by a fisheries agreement. Such an accord is needed to close this region to commercial fishing until adequate scientific research can be done and management measures can be implemented that will ensure a sustainable fishery.
Download this booklet to find out why the international fisheries agreement is an important step in protecting the Central Arctic Ocean.