Download COMMERCIAL FISHERIES Background Some of the world`s most

COMMERCIAL FISHERIES
Background
Some of the world’s most productive fisheries are located in the Arctic
region. Fishing operations in the Arctic take place in areas that are
completely or seasonally ice-free.
Considerations
 Commercial fisheries are interested in protecting the health and sustainability of fish
populations.
 Warming may potentially favor commercial fishing -- warming temperatures are causing an
increase in commercial fish populations that are new to the Arctic region.
 Expansion of commercial fishing in some areas of the Arctic has been prohibited due to a lack of
understanding of how fish populations are changing.
 Commercial fisheries want to maintain their rights to fish in areas where other stakeholders are
interested in developing.
 Governments and organizations are currently working on devising sustainable plans for fishing in
the Arctic.
 Sustainable commercial fishing requires maintenance and protection of fish ecosystems.
Description of spatial interests
 Currently, most activity takes place in the Bering and Barents seas, the west coast of Greenland,
and around Iceland and the Faroe Islands.
 No large-scale commercial fishing occurs in the central Arctic as of yet due to sea ice
concentration.
Description of interest over time
 As less ice covers the Arctic, interests from other stakeholders will intensify. Fisheries will need
to protect their fishing rights as well as the ecosystem they rely on.
 As the water becomes warmer, commercial fish are migrating north and may eventually reside
in the Arctic Ocean.
 It is possible that some southern commercial fish species will do well in this new area and outcompete local species, and fishermen may have to change their fishing approaches.
Notes: Fishermen do not require private access to their waters; therefore, negotiating with other
interests groups will make sharing Arctic resources easier. Furthermore, it is important for fishing that
the ecosystem is managed sustainably, minimizing environmental pollution and depletion of stocks.
SHIPPING INDUSTRY
Background
As Arctic sea ice retreats, new shipping lanes are
opening up, including the Northern Sea Route along the
Russian coast and the Northwest Passage along the
Canadian. Many shipping companies that transport
consumer goods worldwide are interested in these new routes.
Considerations
 Currently, shipping routes in the Arctic is limited by sea ice conditions, but is growing steadily.
 Arctic shipping takes place during the summer season, when sea ice is at a minimum.
 Even in summer months, weather and ice conditions can make navigation challenging.
 Currently, cargo ships using Arctic shipping routes are often accompanied by specialized
icebreaker vessels, which can add to overall costs.
 Arctic shipping routes can significantly decrease the time and distances traveled of more
traditional routes that go through the Suez and Panama canals.
 Shorter shipping routes may reduce energy use and emissions, helping to combat climate
change.
 Port development along new Arctic shipping routes can provide revenue for local economies.
Description of spatial interests
 Currently, shipping companies are using routes along the coastlines of Russia and, to a lesser
extent, Canada.
 The shipping industry also currently relies on existing Arctic ports and infrastructure to
accommodate their needs.
Description of interests over time
 Recently, Arctic ice has shown significant melting patterns across the region, particularly in
summer.
 Looking ahead, the polar ice cap is expected to shrink considerably in summer, with a minimal
amount of ice left along the northern coasts of Canada and Greenland.
 As sea ice continues to decrease, shipping companies will want to take advantage of the newly
accessible shipping routes, likely including the Trans-Arctic route that runs through the center of
the Arctic Ocean.
TOURISM
Background
Although the number of people traveling to the Arctic remains small,
seasonal tourism activities in the region are growing quickly.
Considerations
 Tourism is increasing due to: improved access (less sea ice,
and longer season); increasing affordability; more personal wealth to facilitate travel time to travel;
jurisdictional constraints removed.
 Tourism is diverse in the Arctic: it includes markets for sightseeing, sport hunting and fishing,
adventure, nature and wildlife, and cultural heritage.
 Biggest tourist attractions include: seeing the northern lights, pristine landscapes, polar bears and
other wildlife, and experiencing local cultures.
 Because the environment plays a big role in Arctic tourism, many tourist organizations are interested
in sustainability and conservation.
 Cruise operators must be prepared for challenging ice and weather conditions in order to operate
safely in the Arctic region.
• Some local economies rely on tourism for sales revenue, jobs, personal income, and public financing.
Description of spatial interests
 Tourism currently takes place in areas with existing ports and infrastructure to accommodate
visitors.
 Currently, Arctic tourism takes place most frequently around Norway, Svalbard, Iceland, and
Greenland.
 Tourism development is a goal for Canada (Nunavut, Manitoba, Yukon), Russia, and Alaska.
Description of interests over time
Over time, tourism will increase throughout the Arctic. This is mostly due to:
 Climate change, which is warming the Arctic twice as fast as the rest of the world, leads to:
o Increased accessibility: less sea ice means easier access to new areas for visits
o Changing environments: people will want to see the animals and landscapes while they can
 Coastal communities showing increased interest in growing their local economies through tourism.
Notes: Eco-Tourism, a strategy used by some Arctic tour companies, is defined as “responsible travel to
natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people” (TIES, 1990).
COASTAL COMMUNITIES, PRIMARILY INDIGENOUS PEOPLES
(Specifically, Indigenous Peoples with mixed economies in favor of
preserving cultural traditions and subsistence lifestyle practices)
Background
Indigenous people have lived in the Arctic for thousands of years,
adapting their lifestyles to the harsh environment. Most northern
Indigenous communities are mixed subsistence-cash economies.
Considerations
 Top priorities for many Arctic Indigenous communities include:
o Economic, social, and cultural sustainability that contributes to the well-being of communities
and their residents
o Protection of traditional fishing/hunting rights through management of natural resources
o Preparedness for and response to changes in environment and ecosystems
 Many communities support activities that will strengthen and diversify local economies, for instance,
tourism.
 Communities may support development of Arctic oil and gas resources under the following conditions:
o Resource development must contribute to improved living standards of local communities
o Portion of oil companies’ profits are invested into local economy
o Resources are developed in a way that protects the local environment, including safety measures
to prevents spills
o Oil companies take full responsibility for cleanup of any spills, and either compensate locals for
losses in case of a spill or employ them to help with the cleanup, paying them a salary equivalent
to what they were making before with benefits
Description of spatial interests
 Indigenous communities are located throughout the Arctic region.
 In general, Indigenous Peoples have a deep connection to the lands they’ve historically inhabited.
 If resources are located in or on Indigenous territory, local communities have a say in making decisions
related to development.
Description of interests over time
Industrialization, social change, and environmental issues may challenge many aspects of Indigenous Peoples
livelihoods and cultures. Climate change presents a challenge in the following ways:
 Sea level rise will impact many coastal communities.
 Global warming impacts the diversity of species, which in turn affects fishing and hunting.
 Economic interests will change over time as more sea ice melts, opening up new routes for ships.
 Melting of sea ice will allow access to oil reserves that have been previously untapped.
Notes: This is not a uniform depiction of all Arctic Indigenous people. It is important to note that Arctic Indigenous
coastal communities are diverse; they speak different languages and have different values. Some are in favor of
development, while others are not.
OIL & GAS
Background
The Arctic is projected to hold a large amount of the world’s undiscovered energy
resources: 13% of its oil, 30% of its natural gas, and 20% of its liquefied natural gas.
More than 80% of these resources are thought to be offshore. A continuing rise in
demand is the main reason companies are interested in Arctic oil and gas exploitation,
despite the high risk and cost of recovering these resources.
Considerations
 Many companies want clear regulations to reduce potential liabilities.
 The industry is large and requires skilled labor, which promises job creation for local communities.
 Overcoming issues of cost, cold weather, ice, lack of infrastructure, limited weather forecasts, and
deep waters will require a lot of research and development, including new technology and
infrastructure development.
 Oil and gas companies have significant monetary resources and political power to help push for
development.
 Resource development increases stresses that Arctic communities and ecosystems are facing as a
result of climate change.
 It is currently impossible to clean up an oil spill under most Arctic sea ice conditions.
 Expansion of shipping routes is of special interest, as companies need to transport extracted oil and
gas.
Description of spatial interests
 Production is limited to specific geographic locations with projected reserves.
 Areas with the highest probability for discoveries are within the coastal regions of Canada, Alaska,
Russia, and Norway.
Description of interests over time
 The sooner exploration starts the better, so that plans can be made for production.
 As sea ice recedes with climate change, new sites will open for oil exploration.
 The less ice the better for both oil and gas development as well as transport of extracted resources.
Notes: A Norway-based oil and gas company is advocating an ecosystem-based approach to assessing the
impact of new oil and gas exploitation in Arctic and sub-Arctic regions. This will allow decision-makers to run
simulations of the potential effects of oil and gas activity (drilling, oil spills, tankers, invasive species, etc.) on
ecosystems located in proposed drilling areas.
ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCATES
(Wildlife Focused)
Background
The Arctic is home to many unique species of animals that are
specially adapted to living in the often harsh environment.
Considerations
 Arctic Cod, Ringed Seals, and Polar Bears, among other
Arctic species, are dependent on sea ice for habitat.
 Ice-dependent species will face survival challenges from both a rapidly changing climate and
industrial activities like resource development.
 Advocacy groups are working with scientists to better understand what ice-dependent species need
to survive, and how ecosystems and habitats can be sustainably managed to prevent extinction.
 Pollution from Arctic and global industrial sources can build up in the fatty tissues of animals, causing
sickness and even death, in some cases.
 Some environmental advocacy groups use large media campaigns to call attention to the challenges
Arctic species are facing.
 Many coastal communities that depend on healthy Arctic ecosystems, including Arctic Indigenous
Peoples who practice subsistence hunting and fishing, are interested in environmental protection.
Description of spatial interests
 Many Arctic marine species, including whales, seals, and birds, spend their lives on or near yearround sea ice.
 Most important ecological areas are currently located along coastlines; because of historical ice
cover, little is known about species living in the central Arctic Ocean.
Description of interest over time
 As climate change progresses, environmental advocates are working to protect areas in the Arctic
where sea ice is likely to remain throughout the year.
 Environmental groups will need to work with other Arctic stakeholders to ensure safe and
sustainable development of the regions resources.
Note about Polar Bears
Currently, polar bears are distributed around the entire circum-Arctic region. However, habitat for polar
bears and other ice-associated species is projected to be lost around most of the Arctic as sea ice melts.
Polar bear habitat is likely to be sustained for longest in the region north of Canada and Greenland known as
the “Last Ice Area.” Therefore the “Last Ice Area” will become increasingly important for the conservation of
this iconic species as summer sea ice diminishes.