US blocks trawlers from following retreating Arctic ice
Commercial fishing in US Arctic waters is to be banned at least until its effects are understood, the North Pacific Fishery Management Council decided today. “This is a courageous and ethical move by Alaska’s fishermen,” said Bill Fox, Vice President of Fisheries with WWF-US.
Illegal fishers plunder the Arctic
Gland, Switzerland: Pervasive and hugely profitable illegal fishing for Atlantic cod and Russian pollock in the Arctic threatens the health of these globally important fisheries and their resilience to climate change, a new WWF report shows.
Little hope for Hopen sea ice?
A 40-year study of seasonal fast ice thickness around the island of Hopen in the Barents Sea has discovered a significant decrease in ice thickness each decade between 1966 and 2007.
New nature reserve for Russian Arctic
The creation of a new protected area in the western Russian Arctic will help protect threatened arctic species such as walruses and polar bears.
A very big year for polar research begins
The 2007–08 International Polar Year, a period of intense study that will focus on the Arctic and Antarctic, officially began today with numerous ceremonies taking place around the world.
The new Barents cod quota gambles with the future of the stock
Norway and Russia have agreed on an annual North East Arctic cod catch of 424,000 tonnes for 2007 - 115,000 tonnes over the 309,000 tonnes recommended by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES).
No oil development in Lofoten and Vesterålen, pearls of the Barents Sea
WWF has welcomed Norway’s decision to continue a moratorium on oil development in two of the world’s most important marine areas, Lofoten and Vesterålen in the Barents Sea.
Frozen food companies alleged buyers of illegally caught fish
Illegal fishing threatens cod stocks in the Barents Sea and new evidence suggests that the illegally caught fish end up on supermarket shelves thanks to major frozen food companies.
Norwegian killer whales most toxic mammals in Arctic
Initial scientific results show that Norwegian killer whales are the most toxic mammals in the Arctic. Previous research awarded this dubious honour to the polar bear, but a new WWF-supported study shows that killer whales have even higher levels of PCBs, pesticides and a brominated flame retardant.
The Arctic is the chemical sink of the globe, says WWF
The Arctic and its wildlife are increasingly contaminated with chemicals and pollutants that were never produced or used in that region.