Expansion of Arctic Fishery Prohibited Until Further Study by U.S.

With Arctic summer sea ice rapidly disappearing, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke has prohibited the expansion of fishing into ice-free seas until scientists can study the marine life in the newly opened waters and devise a sustainable fishing plan. The new federal fisheries plan, hailed by environmental groups and commercial fishing interests, would prohibit commercial fishing in nearly 200,000 square miles of federal waters in the Beaufort and Chukchi seas. Scientists are beginning to study the areas within 200 miles of the Alaska coast to determine the type and abundance of fish species, after which they are to propose a plan for limited commercial fishing. Among the commercial species likely to be targeted are Arctic cod, saffron cod, and snow crab. Locke’s decision will not affect fishing for Pacific salmon, halibut, whitefish, and shellfish close to the Alaskan coast. Commercial fishing interests said the plan will prevent the over-exploitation of fisheries stocks in the newly opened waters, and environmental groups said the plan represented the first instance in which management guidelines will be developed before an area is opened to fishing.