Commercial vessels
bring stressors & risks
to an undisturbed ecosystem

As the floating ice-reef recedes and creates a newly accessible ocean, the biodiversity within the Arctic Ocean, already challenged by stressors resulting from the impacts of human greenhouse gas emissions, now faces the introduction of direct impacts from surface vessel activity.

The most biologically active layer of these waters (the uppermost) is warming and acidifying faster than anywhere on Earth – and the consequent environmental stressors on, and risks to, species are further intensified by the Arctic Amplification Effect.

The direct impacts, stressors and risks posed by vessels involved in commercial fishing, transboundary cargo movements, and deep-sea hydrocarbon and mineral operations, put at heightened risk the sustainability of the Arctic Ocean’s biodiversity and its associated global ecosystem services which include seafood production, genetic resources, carbon sequestration, oxygen production, air purification, and climate control.

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Proposed solution:
Protect this global commons
for global public benefit

The Central Arctic Ocean, the world’s northernmost ‘high seas’ region, is by international legal definition a ‘global commons’, with all such ‘international spaces’ assigned to be ‘the common heritage of humanity’ and so for the benefit of all citizens and nations worldwide.

Unsurprisingly for its location, these waters have unique geophysical, oceanographic and biological characteristics, and host an entire ecosystem that has remained undisturbed throughout human history largely due to the barrier to entry presented by its sea-ice cover. However, as the sea-ice habitat recedes to create an ice-free ocean over the coming decades, new risks arise for the wildlife, biodiversity and ecosystem services from increasing vessel activity.

90 North Foundation proposes that a comprehensive suite of conservation measures be secured to address the impacts, stressors and risks posed by commercial fishing, transboundary cargo shipping, and deep-sea mining vessels in the Central Arctic Ocean, the measures to be incorporated in an international agreement which establishes a North Pole Marine Reserve by 2037.

By this means, this fastest-changing of ocean regions covering 2.8 million square kilometres around the North Pole will host a globally iconic marine reserve dedicated to biodiversity conservation, scientific endeavour, and peaceful international co-operation.

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