FEATURED STORIES
Promoting Strong Arctic Governance and Ensuring an Aspirational Marine Resources Treaty’s Effectiveness
Connor Sakati examines the risks, challenges, and opportunities associated with potential high seas fisheries in the Central Arctic Ocean, framing the issue through the lens of the tragedy of the commons. He highlights national security, environmental, and socioeconomic concerns, emphasizing how economic competition could drive conflict and how weak governance structures may lead to overfishing and other exploitations.
Sakati provides an in-depth analysis of the Agreement to Prevent Unregulated High Seas Fisheries in the Central Arctic Ocean, discussing its origins, achievements, and shortcomings. He explains how negotiators balanced key trade-offs—breadth vs. depth, cooperation vs. coercion, and short-term vs. long-term considerations—while shaping the treaty. The article concludes with recommendations for strengthening Arctic governance by addressing existing gaps in international agreements.