According to the federal officials the plan was approved by Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke in August. NOAA informed that the plan establishes an orderly process to consider requests to develop fisheries in the Arctic, and it provides time for science to catch up to changing Arctic conditions, specifically global warming and the loss of sea ice.
Chris Krenz, Arctic project manager for conservation group Oceana, told that they need a rush of scientists into the Arctic, not an armada of cargo ships, oil platforms and fishing trawlers. The North Pacific Fishery Management Council began looking at management options for the Arctic three years ago. It was feared that the loss of sea ice would open up areas of the Arctic where previously there had been no commercial fishing.
In its act of precaution the council has voted to prohibit commercial fishing until more is known about the Arctic marine environment. The plan governs commercial fishing for all stocks of finfish and shellfish in federal waters, except Pacific salmon and Pacific halibut because they are managed under other authorities.
Dave Benton, the alliance’s executive director, said other nations are interested in exploring the potential of the central Arctic for fishing, and having the United States in a leadership role and closing commercial fisheries north of the Bering Strait sets a good example.
