Special Arctic Announcement
Appeal Signed Requesting Open Scientific Access to the Arctic Ocean
In Anticipation of the Meeting of Ministers from the Five Arctic Coastal
Nations
Ilulisat, Greenland
28 May 2008
Abstract: Last week, the Consortium for Ocean Leadership, the Marine
Mammal Commission, the Arctic Research Consortium of the U.S. (ARCUS),
and the U.S. Arctic Research Commission, all organizations that conduct,
or have interests in arctic research, signed an appeal to the U.S.
Department of State (DOS) regarding efforts to ensure open scientific
access to the Arctic Ocean, and to address the need for data sharing.
The DOS acknowledged receipt of the appeal, with thanks. The signatorie
hope that the appeal will encourage discussion of these matters at the
ministerial meeting of representatives from the five arctic coastal
states (Denmark, Norway, Canada, Russia, and the US) that will be held
in Ilulisat, Greenland. The head of the U.S. delegation will be Deputy
Secretary of State John Negroponte.
The full appeal text can be found below.
Appeal to the U.S. Department of State
In Anticipation of the Meeting of Ministers from the Five Arctic Coastal
Nations
Ilulisat, Greenland, on 28 May 2008
As you, representing the United States, meet with representatives from
other Arctic coastal states, to discuss the future of the Arctic Ocean,
we, representing the U.S. science community working in this region, make
this appeal: please take all necessary effort to enable research to
thrive by ensuring free and open scientific access to the Arctic. The
open nature of the Antarctic Treaty, and the free support of and
exchanges in science, have been the hallmark of international
cooperation on that continent for 50 years. The Arctic also would
benefit from such openness.
We especially urge the coastal arctic states to remove obstacles to ship
access for research in the Arctic Ocean. In recent years, important
scientific expeditions have been cancelled through parts of the Arctic
due to the expense and complications of national rules for foreign ships
wishing to enter the Exclusive Economic Zone of certain arctic nations.
Further, some ships-whose voyages were solely dedicated to research-have
been categorically denied access. We are concerned that arctic nations'
expanded jurisdiction of the ocean floor, that will come about through
Law of the Sea claims, threatens to further limit the full range of
customary research activities that need to be conducted by scientists in
the Arctic. Although it may be useful to ensure rights of inspection for
such vessels, there are many benefits to be derived from open access for
scientific purposes.
Second, please address the well-documented need for sharing of data that
has been, or will be, collected in the Arctic Ocean region. We appeal to
nations to continue to make available previously collected data, and to
commit to further sharing of new data collected within jurisdictional
borders.
Knowledge gained from arctic research is important to the entire world.
Policy decisions on climate change, energy, environment, human health,
security, commerce, and other subjects will be made by many nations
based on this knowledge. Scientific research should be based on sound
conclusions drawn from valid data, unfettered by national borders.
Thank you for your attention to these issues. We wish you a productive
meeting.
Signed by the following organizations:
Consortium for Ocean Leadership (www.oceanleadership.org)
Marine Mammal Commission (www.mmc.gov)
Arctic Research Consortium of the U.S. (www.arcus.org)
U.S. Arctic Research Commission (www.arctic.gov)