The Barents Sea loophole agreement: a "coastal state" solution to a straddling stock problem

TY - JOUR

T1 - The Barents Sea loophole agreement: a "coastal state" solution to a straddling stock problem

AU - Churchill, Robin R.

N1 - dc.publisher: Martinus Nijhoff

PY - 1999

Y1 - 1999

N2 - In May 1999 Iceland, Norway and Russia signed an agreement (the "Loophole Agreement") designed to resolve a six-year dispute over unregulated fishing by Icelandic vessels for straddling stocks in an enclave ("the Loophole") of high seas in the central Barents Sea. The Agreement, which gives Iceland fishing rights in the Norwegian and Russian EEZs in return for ceasing fishing in the Loophole, is an example of direct co-operation between coastal and high seas fishing states over the management of straddling fish stocks on the high seas which the 1995 UN Agreement on the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks envisages as a possible alternative to management through a regional fisheries organisation. The article explains why the parties have chosen this model rather than utilising the existing regional fisheries organisation or establishing a new regional fisheries arrangement; and compares the Loophole Agreement with arrangements for some other high seas enclaves.

AB - In May 1999 Iceland, Norway and Russia signed an agreement (the "Loophole Agreement") designed to resolve a six-year dispute over unregulated fishing by Icelandic vessels for straddling stocks in an enclave ("the Loophole") of high seas in the central Barents Sea. The Agreement, which gives Iceland fishing rights in the Norwegian and Russian EEZs in return for ceasing fishing in the Loophole, is an example of direct co-operation between coastal and high seas fishing states over the management of straddling fish stocks on the high seas which the 1995 UN Agreement on the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks envisages as a possible alternative to management through a regional fisheries organisation. The article explains why the parties have chosen this model rather than utilising the existing regional fisheries organisation or establishing a new regional fisheries arrangement; and compares the Loophole Agreement with arrangements for some other high seas enclaves.

KW - Fisheries

KW - Conservation

KW - Iceland

KW - Norway

KW - Russia

KW - Treaties

KW - Barents Sea

U2 - 10.1163/157180899X00282

DO - 10.1163/157180899X00282

M3 - Article

SN - 0927-3522

VL - 14

SP - 467

EP - 490

JO - International Journal of Marine and Coastal Law

JF - International Journal of Marine and Coastal Law

IS - 4

ER -