International Regulation of Central Arctic Ocean Fisheries

Due in particular to the impacts of climate change, the adequacy of the international regulation of Central Arctic Ocean fisheries has come under increasing scrutiny in recent years. As shown in this article, however, international regulation of Central Arctic Ocean fisheries is by no means entirely absent. The global component of international fisheries law applies to the entire (Central) Arctic Ocean, however defined. Furthermore, even the Central Arctic Ocean is already currently subject to actual regional or subregional fisheries regulation.
After providing a concise overview of the global component of international fisheries law and Arctic fisheries instruments and bodies, the article focuses on the evolving regional law on Arctic Ocean fisheries. Particular attention is devoted to the efforts of the Arctic Ocean coastal states (Arctic Five) on Arctic Ocean fisheries so far - including their key meeting in Nuuk, in February 2014, and their ‘Declaration Concerning the Prevention of Unregulated High Seas Fishing in the Central Arctic Ocean’ signed in Oslo on 16 July 2015 - and the “broader process” involving “all interested States” envisaged in the 2015 Oslo Declaration. Among the issues examined are the relationship between the Arctic Five’s commitments and existing regional fisheries management organizations or arrangements, and the consistency of the Arctic Five’s process - including the ‘lead role’ claimed by them - with applicable international fisheries law.