The Future of Arctic Governance

Abstract

The Arctic is many ways different than other the Antarctica and much of its territories, including waters and continental shelves, is under national jurisdiction of the Arctic states. There is a vast high seas hole in the central Arctic Ocean, altogether 2.8 square kilometres, enabling distant fishing fleet operations if fish stocks are to move there with the warming waters. There is even more spaces for navigation when the Arctic Ocean’s sea ice gradually melts due to climate change, given that even in territorial sea, the other states’ vessels have innocent navigation rights.