BairdMaritime is reporting the five nations bordering the Arctic Ocean have agreed to prohibit fishing in the “doughnut hole” that lies outside the EEZ of any of the five nations.

“A declaration has been signed by the five countries that surround the Arctic Ocean, to prevent unregulated commercial fishing of the 1.1 million-square-nautical mile “doughnut hole” which falls outside of any country’s jurisdiction.

“Canada, the US, Greenland, Norway and Russia have signed a document stating that they will not allow any vessels to conduct any commercial fishing until one or more international mechanisms are in place to manage fishing in accordance with recognised international standards.”

This really isn’t an issue now, because there is no fishing there now. Still I wonder how we can regulate fishing outside the EEZ. Still, good to see they are out ahead of the problem.