Multilateral Fishery Science Cooperation - Arctic

Arctic Council The Arctic Council is a high-level intergovernmental forum that provides a mechanism to address the common concerns and challenges faced by the Arctic governments and the people of the Arctic. Increased awareness of anthropogenic pollution in the Arctic, and concern over its possible effects, led to the adoption of the Arctic Environmental Protection Strategy (AEPS) (also referred to as the Rovaniemi Process) by the governments of the eight circumpolar nations at the First Arctic Ministerial Conference (Rovaniemi, Finland, June 1991). On 19 September 1996, a Declaration on the establishment of an Arctic Council was signed by representatives of the governments of the eight Arctic countries at the inaugural meeting of the Arctic Council in Ottawa, Canada.

The members of the Council are Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, the Russian Federation, Sweden, and the United States of America. The Association of Indigenous Minorities of the North, Siberia and the Far East of the Russian Federation, the Inuit Circumpolar Conference, the Saami Council, the Aleutian International Association, Arctic Athabaskan Council and Gwich'in Council International are Permanent Participants in the Council. There is provision for non-arctic states, inter-governmental and inter-parliamentary organizations and non-governmental organizations to become involved as observers.

The Council meets at the ministerial level biennially. The Chair and Secretariat of the Council rotates every two years among the eight Arctic States.

The main activities of the Council focus on the protection of the Arctic environment and sustainable development as a means of improving the economic, social and cultural well-being of the north. The Council is advised by its programs for Arctic Monitoring and Assessment (AMAP); the Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna (CAFF); Emergency Prevention, Preparedness and response (EPPR); Protection of the Arctic Marine Environment (PAME): and its Sustainable Development Working group (SDWG). Its programs and actions plans include: the Arctic Climate Impact Assessment (ACIA); the Arctic Council Action Plan to Eliminate Pollution (ACAP): and the Regional Program of Action for the Protection of the Arctic Marine Environment form Land-Based Activities (RPA).

Program for the Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna (CAFF)

The Office of Science and Technology supports the work of the Program for the Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna (CAFF) and the its Expert Group for the Circumpolar Protected Area Network (CPAN). CAFF is also advised by its Experts Groups for Arctic Flora and Circumpolar Seabirds.