U.S. wants to strengthen agreement to ban Arctic Ocean fishing
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Such an agreement would be binding and include more countries than a non-binding agreement to avoid fishing in the area that the U.S. entered into with Norway, Denmark, Russia and Canada in 2015.
Adm. Robert Papp, U.S. special representative for the Arctic, said a binding, multinational agreement would prevent fishing in the Arctic high seas before scientists can determine what is sustainable.
He said the issue is especially important as Arctic ice melts, making the area more open to potential commercial fishing. ■