WWF urges caution and conservation ahead of Arctic fisheries talks

As the Parties to the Central Arctic Ocean Fisheries Agreement (CAOFA) prepare to gather for their fourth Conference of the Parties (COP4) in June 2025, WWF urges delegates to stay the course on precaution and cooperation. CAOFA is a historic international agreement between Arctic and non-Arctic states that prohibits unregulated commercial fishing in the high seas of the Central Arctic Ocean (CAO). With no commercial fishing yet in the region, CAOFA presents a rare opportunity to establish strong, science-based governance before any exploratory fishing begins.

WWF’s priorities for the talks

WWF’s key messages for COP4 remain clear and urgent:

• Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems (VMEs) of the Central Arctic Ocean should be defined before any exploratory activity begins.
• Rules for exploratory fishing must be completed before any exploratory fishing activity occurs to ensure the sustainability of Arctic ecosystems.
• These recommendations reflect the core principles of the CAOFA—science-based decision-making, precaution, and shared stewardship—and they are now more important than ever.

New report underscores the need for precaution

This year’s COP takes place just weeks after the release of the Synthesis Report on Ecosystem Status, Human Impacts and Management Measures in the Central Arctic Ocean. It was published by the Arctic Council’s PAME Working Group and co-led by WWF. This is the first comprehensive overview of the CAO’s ecological status, governance frameworks, and emerging pressures.

The report’s findings highlight a region in flux: vanishing multi-year sea ice, increasing vessel traffic, and the early presence of plastic pollution—even in these remote waters. The report also identifies governance gaps and stresses the need for coordinated, ecosystem-based management to protect fragile marine ecosystems before large-scale activity begins.

Importantly, the report also stresses the vital role of Indigenous Knowledge in understanding and managing Arctic ecosystems. Indigenous Peoples have stewarded these environments for millennia, holding deep, place-based knowledge of seasonal patterns, wildlife behavior, and long-term environmental change. Their inclusion in decision-making is not only a matter of equity—it enhances the depth, accuracy, and resilience of management strategies. WWF strongly supports the equitable application of Arctic Indigenous Knowledge and western scientific knowledge into all future steps under CAOFA.

For WWF, this new baseline established by the CAO synthesis report reinforces the need for caution. The report should be central to any discussions.

Little progress, no need to rush

Since COP3 in 2024, there has been little measurable progress on finalizing Conservation and Management Measures (CMMs) for exploratory fishing—the rules that would guide any potential scientific exploratory fishing. COP3 ended with momentum, but without consensus.

Some parties are eager to move forward as the current deadline for adopting the new CMMs is fast approaching. WWF, however, urges caution. Without clear mechanisms to ensure transparency, environmental protection, and to prevent exploratory fishing from becoming de facto commercial activity, rushing ahead would undermine the integrity of the agreement.

If the necessary scientific and policy frameworks are not yet in place, then the most responsible action at COP4 is to “stop the clock”, extend the timeline, continue negotiations, and stay true to the precautionary principle for which the CAOFA is known.

A defining moment

The CAOFA is a landmark in international ocean governance. It shows what’s possible when states act before exploitation begins, and choose long-term sustainability over short-term gain.

At COP4, WWF urges governments to:

• Use the newly published PAME Central Arctic Ocean Synthesis report  to inform decisions.
• Protect vulnerable marine ecosystems before any fishing starts
• Take the time needed to ensure exploratory fishing, if it happens, is done responsibly.

This is a defining moment. The decisions made now will shape the future of the Central Arctic Ocean. WWF calls on all Parties to act with foresight, unity, and care.