Representatives from five coastal states of the central Arctic Ocean met in Oslo, Norway last week in order to sign a declaration to prohibit the unregulated commercial fishing in the region.

The United States, Canada, Russia, Norway and Denmark, with regard to Greenland, have agreed to prevent their citizens from fishing in international waters around the Arctic's central region, an area larger than Texas and Alaska combined and still covered mostly in ice.

The decision to take a precautionary action regarding commercial fishing in the area was made because of a significant reduction of Arctic sea ice as well as other environmental changes observed in the region. There is also not enough scientific information on marine resources in the area available to conduct an accurate assessment.

As part of the agreement, the five signatory nations will only authorize their fishing vessels to carry out commercial fishing activities in the central Arctic once one or more mechanisms are set in place to closely monitor such fishing in accordance to internationally-recognized standards.

The five states have also expressed their intention to create a joint program regarding scientific studies aimed at improving the public's understanding on the various ecosystems present in the region.

They acknowledge that other nations may also have interests in barring unregulated fisheries in the high seas covered by the region. The signatories suggest that a broader process can be initiated to create measures consistent with the ideals of the declaration, and that it would include commitments from all interested states.

The international declaration builds on an action made by the United States in 2009, wherein it effectively bans commercial fishing in the country's Exclusive Economic Zone, located north of the Bering Strait. It remains in place until adequate scientific information is made available to support a reliable fisheries management.

The U.S. launched its five-state process in accordance with congressional direction under the Public Law 110-243. The legislation calls for the American government to take action with fellow Arctic states to create a declaration for managing the stocks of fish found in the Arctic.

It also allows for the enactment of the National Strategy for the Arctic Region of 2013, in which the United States commits itself to prohibiting unregulated fisheries in the high seas in the region.

Photo: Office of Naval Research | Flickr