Canadian Government Considering Moratorium On Beaufort Sea Fishing - Edmonton Journal

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Canadian officials are quietly exploring a possible moratorium on large-scale commercial fishing in the Beaufort Sea, a move that would match a decision announced last week by the U.S. government, Canwest News Service has learned. The temporary U.S. ban imposed Thursday by Commerce Secretary Gary Locke followed months of speculation about the possible opening of new fisheries north of Alaska, where warming waters and melting sea ice are expected to encourage northward migrations or population spikes of some commercially valuable species of fish, shellfish and marine mammals.

But lingering uncertainties about the long-term impact of climate change on the Arctic environment, and about the best strategies to sustainably exploit potential new fisheries in the region prompted the U.S. North Pacific Fishery Management Council to recommend earlier this year that industrial-scale harvests be banned pending further research.

Locke accepted that recommendation on Thursday, insisting that despite strong prospects for snow crab, Arctic cod and saffron cod fisheries, too little is known about fish stocks to sanction commercial operations.

"As Arctic sea ice recedes due to climate change, there is increasing interest in commercial fishing in Arctic waters," said Locke. "We are in a position to plan for sustainable fishing that does not damage the overall health of this fragile ecosystem. This plan takes a precautionary approach to any development of commercial fishing in an area where there has been none in the past."

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http://www.edmontonjournal.com/technology/Canada%20considers%20Beaufort%20fishing%20moratorium/1925445/story.html