International governance of the arctic marine environment

Abstract

The Arctic is a region in the northernmost hemisphere of the Earth. It is known for its extreme environmental conditions, in particular its cold temperatures, high winds, snow, and ice. Yet, life in this polar region is plentiful and includes both terrestrial and marine organisms. The Arctic Ocean provides for a unique, cold-temperatureadapted ecosystem containing plankton, marine mammals, and fish. Studies have shown that polar ice coverage has declined, which is believed to be caused by climate change (i.e., a persistent long-term warming trend). This widespread change impacts arctic biota by altering the distribution of species and the composition of food webs. Shifts in species distribution patterns of arctic benthic communities and marine fishes of the arctic have recently been described in detail by Ilken et al. (2013) and by Mueter et al. (2013), respectively. The book by Weidemann (2014) is about the implications of climate change for the arctic marine environment and the deficits of legal regimes that govern this part of the world. The example of high seas fisheries is used to demonstrate the shortcomings in the Arctic’s international governance. Besides a brief introduction, Weidemann (2014) divided the book into three major sections: 1. Environmental Situation in the Arctic; 2. International Governance of the Arctic Marine Environment; and 3. Possible Ways for Enhancement. I will use in this review the same section headings to highlight some of the author’s main arguments. The book is part of the series Hamburg Studies on Maritime Affairs (Volume 27).