HOW DO INTERNATIONAL GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES PREPARE FOR AND RESPOND TO AN OIL SPILL?

What countries surround the Arctic Ocean? Imagine looking at the globe from the North Pole down (or take a look at the map above) and try to locate the eight countries directly surrounding the Arctic. With a lesser volume and extent of sea ice, the Arctic will open up access to oil fields and trade routes for many countries, not solely the ones adjacent to the Arctic Ocean. Prevention of oil spill contamination in this shared natural space is an international affair.

The collective governments of the Arctic region established the Arctic Council in 1996. In May 2013, the countries of the council signed a legally binding Agreement on Cooperation on Marine Oil Pollution Preparedness and Response in the Arctic. The agreement is between Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden, and the United States. The objective of this agreement is to have nations cooperating in preparedness for oil spills in the Arctic so they can protect the marine environment.

PHOTO CREDIT: Jakobsson, M., L. A. Mayer, B. Coakley, J. A. Dowdeswell, S. Forbes, B. Fridman, H. Hodnesdal, R. Noormets, R. Pedersen, M. Rebesco, H.-W. Schenke, Y. Zarayskaya A, D. Accettella, A. Armstrong, R. M. Anderson, P. Bienhoff, A. Camerlenghi, I. Church, M. Edwards, J. V. Gardner, J. K. Hall, B. Hell, O. B. Hestvik, Y. Kristoffersen, C. Marcussen, R. Mohammad, D. Mosher, S. V. Nghiem, M. T. Pedrosa, P. G. Travaglini, and P. Weatherall, The International Bathymetric Chart of the Arctic Ocean (IBCAO) Version 3.0, Geophysical Research Letters. (The map is devoid of sea ice because it is showing ocean depths).