The 2018 agreement to prevent unregulated high seas fisheries in the central Arctic Ocean: A critical analysis

Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

Authors

Following almost ten years of negotiations, the Agreement to Prevent Unregulated High Seas Fisheries in the Central Arctic Ocean (CAOF Agreement) was concluded on 3 October 2018 in Ilulissat, Greenland. The CAOF Agreement is the first regional fisheries agreement adopted prior to the initiation of fishing in a specific area, and it has already been lauded as a science-based measure and a manifestation of the precautionary approach by representatives of States and Non-Governmental Organizations. This article provides a critical analysis of the content of the CAOF Agreement. It gives an overview of the negotiations which led to the conclusion of the CAOF Agreement and discusses its spatial and substantive scope. Particular attention is paid to the extent that the CAOF Agreement adopts a precautionary approach to conservation and management of high seas fisheries, and to the issue of participation in this regional fisheries treaty.

Original languageEnglish
JournalInternational Journal of Marine and Coastal Law
Volume34
Issue number2
Pages (from-to)195-244
Number of pages50
ISSN0927-3522
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 29.04.2019
Externally publishedYes

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© koninklijke brill nv, leiden, 2019

    Research areas

  • Agreement to Prevent Unregulated High Seas Fisheries in the Central Arctic Ocean (CAOF Agreement CAOFA), Central Arctic ocean (CAO), High seas fisheries, Ilulissat Agreement, Moratorium, Precautionary approach, Regional fisheries management arrangement
  • Law