Governing Marine Living Resources in the Polar Regions

While global oceans are facing extreme pressure from anthropogenic activities, such as marine pollution and ocean acidification, the Polar Regions (Arctic and Antarctica) are still relatively pristine. Nevertheless, marine ecosystems in the Polar Regions are experiencing rapid changes. Climate change is already having dramatic impacts on global marine ecosystems and fisheries.1 Global warming has caused rapid loss in ice cover in many Polar Regions. For example, the multi-year ice cover in the Arctic has declined from 61 per cent in 1984 to 34 per cent in 2018.2 Ice-melting has facilitated human access to formerly remote areas. The potential for increased activities such as fishing, shipping, tourism and bioprospecting in the Polar Regions pose significant ecological risks.