OTTAWA—Canada has ratified an agreement that would prevent commercial fishing in the High Arctic for 16 years. The deal was initially signed last October by Canada and nine other governments but won’t be enforceable until all parties ratify the agreement. It also provides for the participation and inclusion of Arctic Indigenous Peoples and their communities, recognizing the critical value of their local knowledge in the conservation of the Arctic Ocean. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOWNo commercial fishing currently takes place in the High Arctic, but fish stocks are shifting and fishers and scientists have wondered what the northernmost seas on the planet hold. Fisheries Minister Jonathan Wilkinson says Canada is leading the way to protect the oceans, combat illegal fishing and help protect the Arctic’s fragile ecosystems for future generations.

Source: thestar May 29, 2019 22:41 UTC