Melting Arctic to Be Protected From Commercial Fishing

Only a small portion of Arctic waters would be protected by the proposed U.S. fishing ban.

Fishing fleets that may have been casting an envious eye on newly opened Arctic waters that melted during the record heat or recent summers are likely to be barred from that portion under U.S. jurisdiction by a ban approved by federal fisheries managers.

In a unanimous vote, the North Pacific Management Council ruled that better understanding of how global warming is affecting the region needs to be achieved before exploitation of such species as Arctic cod, saffron cod and snow crab should be allowed.

The recommendation must ultimately be approved by the incoming U.S. Commerce Secretary.

The hostile Arctic environment has prevented fishing trawlers from reaching the remote region in the past, and a host of advocacy groups convinced the council to keep them out until it can be assured that the fisheries can sustain commercial fishing.

While the ban would cover only a small portion of the Arctic north of Alaska, Bill Fox, the World Wildlife Fund's vice president of fisheries, said his group urges “other Arctic countries to follow the lead of the U.S.”

Fisheries coverage plot: The Nature Conservancy