Arctic Fisheries Conservation and Management: Initial Steps of Reform of the International Legal Framework

The dramatic impacts that global climate change are expected to have in the future also extend to Arctic marine capture fisheries. Arctic marine ecosystems will change in various ways and this is among other things likely to create new or expanded fishing opportunities. This article assesses the adequacy of the current international legal and policy framework for Arctic fisheries conservation and management - both substantively and institutionally - in responding to the likely and potential impacts that such new or expanded fishing opportunities could have on target and non-target species, the broader marine ecosystem and the livelihoods of indigenous peoples.