April 2, 2023 — Discussion of methods and concerns for maintaining sustainable fisheries was discussed at the Arctic Encounter Symposium on Wednesday, including limiting bycatch and introducing Indigenous perspectives.
Much of the discussion from the symposium centered around commercial fisheries on a global scale, and how the United States is working with other countries to regulate their fisheries, especially in the Central Arctic Ocean through the Agreement to Prevent Unregulated High Seas Fisheries in the Central Arctic Ocean.
“There will not be commercial fisheries in this area for at least the life of the agreement, which is 16 years,” Executive Director of the Federal Arctic Executive Steering Committee David Balton said.