Congress moves forward with Arctic fisheries protection

ALASKA NEWSPAPERS STAFF

May 29, 2008 at 10:31AM AKST

Congress has passed a resolution directing the United States to negotiate an international agreement for managing fish stocks in the Arctic Ocean.

The joint resolution was proposed by Alaska’s Republican senators, Ted Stevens and Lisa Murkowski.

The measure now heads to the president for his signature.

“Alaska has set the gold standard in ensuring robust fish stocks for commercial, recreational, and subsistence purposes,” Stevens said.

“Science-based management has kept fisheries a cornerstone of our economy and preserved an important piece of Alaska Native culture. Global climate change is opening up the Arctic and we must act to protect its fisheries. After the president signs this resolution I will work with the State Department to bring this issue to the United Nations.”

Congressman Don Young, R-Alaska, helped speed the bill through the House of Representatives under the suspension of the rules.

“Alaskan fishermen have worked both at home in our own waters, through the North Pacific Fishery Management Council, and in international regional fishery organizations to make sure that North Pacific Ocean and Bering Sea fisheries are sustainably managed and that management is based on sound science,” Young said.

“This resolution makes it clear that the U.S. wants this track record of sound management to continue into new areas of the Arctic Ocean if they become open to fishing.”

Currently, commercial fishing in the Arctic Ocean has been limited by the distribution of fish habitat and short fishing seasons. 

Due to the possible impacts of climate change, ocean temperatures may shift, causing fish to enter new habitats and creating more favorable fishing conditions.

The North Pacific Fishery Management Council recognized the importance of properly managing these emerging fisheries and it proposed in June that the U.S. close all federal waters in the Arctic Ocean until a management regime is put in place. S.J. Res 17 is consistent with that effort. 

The resolution also addresses the problem of illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing. It calls upon the United States to help prevent fishing on the high seas of the Arctic until an international fisheries management plan is developed. The plan would contain measures to combat IUU fishing that continues to undermine fisheries worldwide.