"Since time immemorial, the Arctic has been a white spot on the map - an ocean that was largely inaccessible for humanity. Until the very recent past, humanity was compelled to accept this inaccessibility, plain and simple. Literally, the Arctic has been white due to a metres thick permanent ice layer covering the entire region. Yet, for some time now, more and more colour has been added to the region: due to climate change, the layer of ice is melting at an alarmingly rapid pace, offering multiple options for human impact on a hitherto virtually untouched natural environment. It is therefore not surprising that the vision of new shipping routes, enhanced research, military activities and profitable economic exploitation has brought the region to the top of the international political and, eventually, legal agenda. Emerging conflicts of interest of various stakeholders are almost inevitable and call for new and possibly innovative forms of governance in a region that has hardly known any before. Predominantly part of the high seas, and thus beyond the reach of national sovereignty, for this area such a regulatory regime can only be established at the international level. Despite its harsh and hostile conditions, the Arctic Ocean is home to a great variety of living resources, which offer promising economic prospects for the future. New possibilities for access might enable fisheries, should there be sufficient fish stocks. As, due to the freedom of the high seas, the high seas portion of the Arctic Ocean is originally "accessible to the commercial fishing fleets of any jurisdiction", all States interested could take up such opportunities.
