Governing the bering strait region: Current status, emerging issues and future options

Abstract

This article examines the existing governance arrangements applicable to the Bering Strait Region (BSR), assesses the emerging needs for governance in the region, and considers options for addressing these needs. Widely regarded as a critical chokepoint between the North Pacific and the Arctic Ocean (and its marginal seas), the BSR is subject to a variety of regimes, ranging from global constitutive arrangements (e.g., 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea) to bilateral operational arrangements. The growth of human activities in the BSR, associated with transformative changes occurring in the Arctic in recent years, is generating new needs for governance. This article reveals options that can be used or ignored by decision makers, in contrast to recommendations that may involve advocacy, with the single objective of contributing to informed decision making in this realm.