Marine protected areas as a tool to ensure environmental protection of the marine Arctic: Legal aspects

Abstract

The sensitive Arctic marine environment, with its fragile ecosystems and habitats, may be threatened by increasing human activities and melting of sea ice due to climate change. Marine protected areas (MPAs) are an environmental tool that, by ensuring a higher level of protection within a defined geographical area, can benefit conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity. To ensure conservation of marine biological diversity, a number of states have committed themselves to establishing a coherent network of MPAs within 2012, an objective endorsed also by the Arctic states. In this chapter, political developments with regard to the establishment of MPAs within and outside of national jurisdiction and legal obligations applicable to the marine Arctic are examined. Despite having both legal obligations and political initiative, there is currently no network of MPAs in the marine Arctic. To ensure implementation of global obligations in the Arctic region, there is a need for further operationalization and clarification of scientific criteria for the selection and designation of sites that may contribute to a future network of MPAs. To fulfill the objective of an ecologically coherent network of MPAs in the marine Arctic, stronger efforts must also be made by the Arctic states through the Arctic Council.