Opportunities for Protecting Biological Diversity in the Arctic Ocean

Abstract

The paper analyses the opportunities to establish marine protected areas (MPAs) beyond national jurisdiction in the Arctic Ocean. For this, the author scrutinises the legal processes allowing UNCLOS to adapt to current and future ocean governance challenges concerning biological diversity and the limits of such adaptability. Some significant limitations are found in areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ) in the Arctic Ocean. The low political commitment of Arctic States to cooperate in fora such the Arctic Council leaves the ABNJ of the Arctic Ocean in a very precarious situation. With extensive areas of the seabed potentially falling under national jurisdiction and the water column remaining as ‘high seas,’ there is a possibility that Arctic cooperation will be eroded.