A New Regime Established for Regulating Fisheries in the Arctic

The fact that prevailing ice conditions have in the past simply prevented any fishing activities to be conducted in the area, and probably will continue to do so in the short and medium term, helps to explain this differential treatment when compared to the other oceans where it was rather the depletion of stocks that finally urged States to start curbing their fishing efforts on the high seas in order to arrive at a sustainable level allowing the continuation of their activities as to the future. Starting from the early seal and whaling conventions concluded during the late 19th and early 20th century, the international community slowly came to realize that fish resources are not inexhaustible as it was generally believed to be the case for most, if not all commercially exploited species on the high seas until the end of the 19th century.

Autor*innen Prof. Dr. Erik Franckx