原本過去夏天仍處於冰封狀態的北極，如今氣候變遷融化當地冰層，過去冰封的水域解凍後，商業捕漁業者各個摩拳擦掌欲從中獲利。
為防止商業捕撈活動破壞生態系，美國商務部長駱家輝（Gary Locke）於8月20日決定在研究人員收集到足夠魚類和北極海洋環境的信息以便實施保育措施前，將在聯邦北極水域内禁止擴大商業性捕撈行爲。
漁業管理人員已經鎖定北極鱈魚、藏紅花鱈魚和雪花蟹可望成為該地區初步商業捕撈活動的標的物種。
於8月20日獲批的北極漁業管理計劃（Arctic Fishery Management Plan）將按即將在聯邦登記冊中公佈的法規施行。
該計劃管轄的範圍涵蓋所有聯邦水域内魚類和貝殼/甲殼類的商業捕撈行爲。隸屬其他當局管理的太平洋鮭魚和太平洋比目魚則除外。
因此該計劃並不影響北極海岸附近阿拉斯加水域鮭魚、白鮭和貝殼/甲殼類的捕撈活動。
另外，北極地區以維生為目的的漁獵行爲也不受該管理計劃任何波及。
根據該計劃，未來任何獲准在北極進行捕撈的漁業業者必須做記錄，以協助確定漁獲量、生產、工作、價格和提供其他保護和管理方面必要的訊息。
此外，該計劃也可能要求漁民偕同經認證的漁業觀察員上船，以便核實漁獲量和漁獲類別比例、追踪其在航行過程中所產生的廢棄物，並且收集海洋生物資源的訊息。
北太平洋漁業管理委員會（North Pacific Fishery Management Council）和美國國家海洋暨大氣總署（NOAA）漁業局（Fisheries Service）將在授予捕撈許可前明列相關規定的程序，同時也會加以監測和定期調整該計劃。
調適内容將包括年度准許總捕量標準，並透過捕獵設備調整、關閉捕撈水域、捕撈水域限制和配額限制來進行合乎當季的調整措施。
閱讀北極漁業管理計劃請點擊此處。
Once ice-bound even in summer, climate change now is thawing the Arctic in summer, opening up waters that commercial fishing interests are eager to harvest.
To prevent ecosystem damage due to commercial harvesting activity, U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke today decided to prohibit the expansion of commercial fishing in federal Arctic waters until researchers gather enough information on fish and the Arctic marine environment to put safeguards in place.
Fisheries managers have identified Arctic cod, saffron cod, and snow crab as likely initial target species for commercial fishing in the region.
The Arctic Fishery Management Plan approved today will be implemented through regulations to be published in the Federal Register.
The plan governs any future commercial fishing for finfish and shellfish in federal waters, except Pacific salmon and Pacific halibut, which are managed under other authorities.
It does not affect fisheries for salmon, whitefish and shellfish in Alaskan waters near the Arctic shore.
Subsistence fishing or hunting in the Arctic are not affected by the management plan.
Under the plan, in any new Arctic fisheries that may be approved in the future, fishermen will be required to keep records that will help determine catch, production, effort, price, and other information necessary for conservation and management.
Fishermen may be required to carry certified fisheries observers on board in order to verify catch quantity and composition, track at-sea discards, and collect biological information on marine resources.
The North Pacific Fishery Management Council and NOAA's Fisheries Service will establish prescribed procedures before authorizing a future fishery, and will monitor and adjust the plan periodically.
These adjustments might include annual total allowable catch levels and in-season adjustments through gear modifications, closures, fishing area restrictions, and quota restrictions.
Click here to read the Arctic Fishery Management Plan.
