Third Meeting of Scientific Experts on Fish Stocks in the Central Arctic Ocean

Seattle, USA—One of a series of FISCAO meetings of scientific experts on fish Stocks in the central Arctic Ocean initiated in 2011.

The series of meetings of scientific experts on fish Stocks in the central Arctic Ocean was initiated in 2011 in response to requests for support for diplomatic discussions on an international agreement to control commercial fishing in areas outside the territorial waters of the five Arctic coastal states, which is known as the High Seas of the central Arctic. The first meeting was hosted by the United States in Anchorage, Alaska and the second meeting was hosted by Norway in Tromsø.

THE ARCTIC COASTAL STATES (the Kingdom of Norway, the Russian Federation, the United States of America, Canada, and the Kingdom of Denmark) convened the third scientific meeting on Arctic fish stocks in Seattle, Washington (April 14–16, 2015), to identify ongoing Arctic research and monitoring activities,and to continue the process of developing the scientific information necessary to support the development of an international agreement on fishing in the Arctic in areas outside the territorial waters of the five Arctic coastal states. The terms of reference for the third meeting were the result of discussions among the Arctic coastal states in Nuuk, Greenland, February 2014. The 2014 meeting in Nuuk reaffirmed that, although commercial fishing in the high seas area of the central Arctic Ocean appears unlikely to occur in the near future, the state of currently available scientific information needs to be improved in order to reduce the substantial uncertainties associated with Arctic fish stocks.

Participants included scientific and policy personnel from governmental and non-governmental institutions. The representatives from scientific institutions in the Arctic coastal states were joined by those from other nations conducting Arctic research (China, Japan, Korea, Iceland).  In addition, participation included members from international Arctic research organizations (International Arctic Science Committee, Sustained Arctic Observing Network, International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES)), the North Pacific Marine Science Organization (PICES), the Ecosystem Approach Expert Group of the Protection of the Arctic Marine Environment Working Group of the Arctic Council, and US domestic Arctic research organizations (the US Arctic Research Commission and the North Pacific Research Board).

• Nuuk Statement 
• Terms of Reference 
• Participants 

Bibliographies

• Bibliography 3rd Meeting Scientific Experts Fish Stocks Arctic Ocean Apr 14, 2015
• United States’ Bibliographies of Fisheries Related Arctic Research and Monitoring
• Contributed Bibliography Arctic Fish Stocks (Appendix C.2 to Inventory of Research and Monitoring Programs Breakout Group Report)
• Contributed Web Sites (URLs) Arctic Fish Stocks (Appendix C.4 to Inventory of Research and Monitoring Programs Breakout Group Report)

Meeting and Breakout Reports

• Final Meeting Report: 3rd Meeting of Scientific Experts on Fish Stocks in the Central Arctic Ocean
• Inventory of Research and Monitoring Programs Breakout Group Report
• Joint Program of Scientific Research and Monitoring Breakout Group Report
• Status and Gaps Breakout Group Report
  • Appendix A1: Arctic Research Activities
  • Appendix A2: Management Plan for the Marine Environment of the Barents Sea-Lofoten Area Update
  • Appendix A3: Atlas of the Barents Sea Fishes, Joint IMR-PINRO report 1, 2011
  • Appendix A4: IMR-PINRO Update of the Barents Sea Ecosystem Report, 2014
  • Appendix A5: A monitoring strategy for the Barents Sea, 2013
  • Appendix A6: IMR ecosystem activity in the Arctic Ocean, 2013
  • Appendix A7: Survey report from the joint Norwegian/Russian ecosystem survey in the Barents Sea, 2013
  • Appendix A8: Strategic Initiative – The Arctic Ocean Ecosystem (SI_ARCTIC)
  • Appendix A9: Final Report Joint Russian-Norwegian Monitoring Project-Ocean 3, 2015

Scientific experts on fish stocks in the central Arctic Ocean from the Kingdom of Norway, the Russian Federation, the United States of America, Canada, the Kingdom of Denmark, the People's Republic of China, the Republic of Korea, Japan, Iceland and the European Union met from September 26–28, 2016, in Tromsø, Norway to develop information supporting diplomatic negotiations on controlling commercial fishing on the High Seas of the central Arctic Ocean. The diplomatic negotiations are building on the precedent of the 2015 Oslo Accord in which the five nations with waters adjacent to the central Arctic High Seas agreed to interim measures on control of commercial fishing in the High Seas.

The 4th Fish Stocks in the Central Arctic Ocean Chairman’s Statement summarizes the background and outcomes of the meeting. The workshop report provides further details, in addition to identifying further information that is now under development to support the diplomatic process.

The terms of reference for the fourth meeting were the result of discussions among the Arctic coastal states and five other participating nations in Washington, D.C., in December 2015. The December 2015 meeting of the Arctic coastal states plus the five cooperating nations reaffirmed that, although commercial fishing in the high seas area of the central Arctic Ocean appears unlikely to occur in the near future, the state of currently available scientific information needs to be improved in order to reduce the substantial uncertainties associated with Arctic fish stocks. The Chairman’s statement from the December 2015 meeting contains additional background regarding the objectives of the fourth scientific meeting. Further clarifications from the parties on their expectations of the scientific process were forthcoming at a second meeting of the parties in Washington, D.C. from 19–21 April 2016  (Chairman's Statement 2nd Meeting).

The parties met in Iqaluit, Nunavut Territory, Canada from 6–8 July 2016 to continue discussions. Of particular relevance to the Fourth Meeting were two points from the delegations' discussion of a joint program of scientific research and monitoring; 1) the importance of indigenous and local knowledge, and 2) the need for further discussion of the scope of the program. The delegations look forward to input from the Fourth Meeting in relation to these discussions (Chairman's Iqaluit Statement).

Download Fourth Fish Stocks in the Central Arctic Ocean Report

Fifth Meeting Of Scientific Experts On Fish Stocks In The Central Arctic Ocean

Ottawa, Canada—One of a series of 5th FISCAO meetings of scientific experts on fish Stocks in the central Arctic Ocean initiated in 2011.

In May 2019, the Signatories to the Agreement to Prevent Unregulated High Seas Fisheries in the Central Arctic Ocean (Agreement) established a Provisional Scientific Coordinating Group (PSCG) to further prepare for the implementation of the Agreement. The PSCG was established on an interim basis to provide scientific support and advice to the Signatories on matters related to the implementation of the Agreement, to develop reports and advice for the biennial Meetings of the Signatories, and to provide support for the scientific work called for under the Agreement. The PSCG met for the first time, hosted by the European Union, at the European Commission Joint Research Centre facilities in Ispra, Italy, from 11-13 February 2020.

Scientific experts on fish stocks in the central Arctic Ocean from the Kingdom of Norway, the United States of America, Canada, the People's Republic of China, the Republic of Korea, Japan, Iceland, the European Union, and the international scientific organizations ICES and PICES, met October 24–26, 2017, in Ottawa, Canada, to develop information supporting diplomatic negotiations to prevent unregulated commercial fishing on the High Seas of the central Arctic Ocean. The diplomatic negotiations are building on the precedent of the 2015 Oslo Accord in which the five nations with waters adjacent to the central Arctic Ocean agreed to interim measures to prevent commercial fishing in the High Seas. The 5th Meeting of Scientific Experts on Fish Stocks in the Central Arctic Ocean built on discussions and products of four prior scientific meetings that were requested by the diplomatic process. The websites for the 3rd Meeting of Scientific Experts on Fish Stocks in the Central Arctic Ocean (April 2015) and 4th Meeting of Scientific Experts on Fish Stocks in the Central Arctic Ocean (September 2016) host the reports for meetings one through four and additional background information, including presentations made at the meetings and national reports on Arctic research activities.

The terms of reference for the fifth meeting resulted from discussions among the 10 Parties in Tórshavn, The Faroe Islands, from November 29–December 1, 2016. The November/December 2016 meeting of the 10 Parties reaffirmed their commitment to prevent unregulated commercial High Seas fishing in the central Arctic Ocean, as well as a commitment to promote the conservation and sustainable use of living marine resources and to safeguard healthy marine ecosystems in the central Arctic Ocean. The Chairperson’s statement from the Tórshavn meeting indicates the need for future scientific collaboration on this topic.

Download the Fifth Fish Stocks in the Central Arctic Ocean Report (released April 2018)

Read the Chairs’ Statement from the 5th Meeting (Issued November 24, 2017)