As an OECM covering the 2.8 million sq km of international waters around the North Pole, it could be the world’s most iconic and largest wildlife reserve – providing optimum protection for its biodiversity and ecosystem services.
As the world’s least disturbed and largest protected marine ecosystem, this North Pole Marine Reserve would make a significant contribution to the global community’s objective to protect at least 30% of our global marine environment by 2030.
The OECM would include legally-enforceable controls on commercial fishing, cargo shipping, deep-sea mining, tourism, and other exploratory, extractive and damaging activities involving surface vessels – but would allow scientific research, military and emergency response vessels.
Achieving this solution involves working with the relevant commercial sectors, environmental organisations, and representatives of nation states to catalyse the necessary consensus.
With the Convention on Biological Diversity classifying the Central Arctic Ocean as an ‘Ecologically or Biologically Significant Area’ (2015), the UN International Maritime Organization having ratified its Polar Code (2017) for shipping operations in the region, and the Arctic Council having orchestrated a voluntary international ban on commercial fishing to 2037, it is evident key sectors, organisations and nations are already aware of the special circumstances, vulnerabilities and risks to the Central Arctic Ocean’s biodiversity and ecosystem.
As an independent, research-based organisation committed to promoting future research that highlights and quantifies the risks to the region’s biodiversity and ecosystem services, the Foundation aspires to become a trusted and valued contributor to the policy-making parties and processes that will deliver the envisaged North Pole Marine Reserve.
Below you will find resources and information on how to get involved and collaborate with us as we embark on this mission.
Follow our projects, programmes and progress, keep in the loop, and be ready to step in when you’re ready:
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Come and say Hello if you’re at one of the conferences. Or come to one of our public events.
For other opportunities and collaboration, please get in touch with our team:
Contact usTake an active role in resourcing our work to deliver the vision
Let your channels and networks deliver the mission’s message to the key decision-makers