Canada is to join more than a dozen countries Wednesday in signing a deal that would block commercial fishing in the High Arctic for 16 years and begin unravelling ecological mysteries at the top of the world. “It’s a major step in the right direction.”The deal is to be signed in Ilulissat, Greenland, by the five nations with Arctic coastlines. As well as a commercial fishing ban, the agreement commits the countries to major scientific work on the entire ecosystem of a region that climate change is making increasingly accessible. “It’s a good example of precautionary action.”Little is currently known about the ecology of the central Arctic Ocean, Highleyman said. “Fisheries and Oceans Canada is committed to working globally to build strong partnerships to address the issue of unregulated fishing,” wrote Vance Chow.

Source: National Post October 02, 2018 20:38 UTC