It is no secret that the decreasing sea ice in the Arctic has opened the waters to new issues, including ownership battles between countries and fishing in areas never before fished. Due to the dwindling ice, the North Pacific Fishery Management Council began debating what actions to take some three years ago. The group eventually decided to take a cautious approach.
The North Pacific Fishery Management Council decided that it would prevent commercial fishing in areas that are becoming available to fish in due to decreased ice. The areas where it will be prohibited to fish will be off-limits beginning this December 3rd.
The council, along with environmental groups, agree that scientists should first study the area to learn more about it. Glenn Sheehan, an executive director at the Barrow Arctic Science Consortium, stated: “You can’t manage an environment if you don’t understand it.”
The fishing agreement involves commercial fishing regarding finfish and shellfish which are in federal waters. However, Pacific salmon and Pacific halibut are not included because they are controlled under other laws. Subsistence fishing will not be controlled under this plan, either will salmon, shellfish and whitefish fishing off Alaska near the Arctic shore.
Fishing, however, will be illegal in approximately 200,000 square miles of U.S. controlled waters. These waters are in the Chukchi and Beaufort seas. The plan has received support of various fishing organizations in the area, making the plan easier to enact.
