photo source: AP Photo
The United States, Russia, Denmark, Norway, and Canada have signed a deal to ban unregulated fishing near the North Pole, where melting sea ice from the Arctic may draw cod, scientists say. The region currently has no commercial fish stocks.
The agreement is a preventative measure. David Balton, U.S. deputy assistant secretary of state for oceans and fisheries, told Reuters that the agreement “will prevent a problem from arising ahead of time.”
The agreement also promoted further research regarding the North Pole’s marine resources.
The nations that signed the deal also hope to convince other nations to not fish in the central Arctic Ocean.