Since the AMSP was adopted in 2004, the Arctic marine environment has been subject to increasing pressures from climate change, economic activities and pollution. The Arctic Council is at the forefront of responses to these emerging issues through the development of in-depth reports and assessments, such as the State of the Arctic Environment Report, the Arctic Climate Impact Assessment (ACIA), the Arctic Marine Shipping Assessment (AMSA), the Arctic Oil and Gas Assessment (AOGA), and ongoing work such as the Arctic Biodiversity Assessment (ABA), Arctic Ocean Review (AOR) and the Recommended Practices for Arctic Oil Spill Prevention (RP3).
The working groups of the Arctic Council, AMAP, PAME, CAFF, EPPR and SDWG have indicated that most strategic actions of the AMSP have been completed or are progressing according to plan, to be concluded within this or the next work plan period.
The Implementation section in the AMSP states that "PAME, in collaboration with all Arctic Council subsidiary bodies, will lead a review of the Strategic Plan by 2010, or another date specified by the Council, to determine its adequacy in light of the results of ongoing assessments and national and regional reporting.”
Therefore, it was deemed timely to update and revise, as relevant, the AMSP (2004) to secure a healthy, productive, and resilient Arctic Ocean and coasts; and to ensure that the future strategic approach to management of the Arctic marine environment is coordinated between the working groups, is based on ecosystem - based approach, and that results are effectively implemented.
Revisions to the AMSP will provide the building blocks towards more coordinated and integrated approaches and supports policy decisions at the local, national, regional and international levels. It also responds to commitments by the global community to sustainable development and protection of marine biodiversity and the marine environment through the application of the ecosystem approach and integrated coastal and ocean management.
The overall goals of AMSP:
- That the Arctic marine environment to be managed using an integrated, ecosystem approach to management.
- That the cumulative environmental effects do not exceed a level at which structure, functioning and productivity of ecosystems and biodiversity are maintained.
- An Arctic Council product and a platform for common efforts in the years to come - Coordination and engagement from working groups essential to create our strategic actions for the next decade.
AMSP Timeline:
- Mid June 2013: Scoping workshop on zero draft.
- September 2013: Discussion of 1st draft at PAME II 2013
- February/March 2014: 2nd draft at PAME I 2014
- September 2014: Final workshop and discussions/inputs at PAME II 2014
- Final product by end of 2014 for formal adoption by PAME I 2015 and spring SAO 2015
- May 2015: Final revised AMSP submitted to the Ministerial meeting for approval
Arctic Marine Strategic Plan 2015-2025
| AMSP | AMSP - Implementation Plan | AMSP - Communication Plan |
|---|---|---|
 The AMSP articulates how the Arctic Council can increase its under-standing of the impacts of human activities, climate change and ocean acidification. The AMSP recognizes the importance of acquiring a better understanding of Arctic change so that actions can be taken that allow Arctic inhabitants, including Arctic indigenous peoples to further adapt to the change. The strategic actions identified in the AMSP will guide the work of the Arctic Council and its subsidiary bodies in the coming decade. Click here to download. |
 The aim of the Implementation Plan for the AMSP 2015-2025 forty strategic actions is to provide a structured approach that tracks follow-up activities (new and ongoing) over the next 10 years among the Arctic Council working groups with overall guidance from the SAOs. Click to download. |
 The 2015 Arctic Marine Strategic Plan calls for the development of a communication plan to support the understanding and involvement in the implementation of the Strategic plan.Click to download. |
Arctic Marine Strategic Plan 2005-2015
The Arctic Marine Strategic Plan (AMSP) was endorsed by Arctic Council Ministers in November 2004. The Arctic Council's vision for the Arctic marine environment is:"A healthy and productive Arctic Ocean and coasts that support environmental, economic and sociocultural values for current and future generations."
- Reduce and prevent pollution in the Arctic marine environment
- Conserve Arctic marine biodiversity and ecosystem functions
- Promote the health and prosperity of all Arctic inhabitants
- Advance sustainable Arctic marine resource use
Download the report
Download booklet - Concise version of the report and the project
AMSP update documents and reports
Workshop report
The 1st scoping workshop for the revision of the 2004 Arctic Marine Strategic Plan was held at the facilities of Radisson Blue Saga Hotel in Reykjavik, Iceland June 13-14, 2013. The aim of the workshop was to get input from other Arctic Council working groups and stakeholders as relevant on a ”zero” draft of the revised AMSP (version 31st of May) which was distributed to participants prior to the workshop.
This draft was prepared by a consultant and has not gone through any review by co-lead countries but served as a good base for initiating discussions. It was based on the main outcomes and relevant documents delivered to the 2013 Kiruna Ministerial meeting and other international reports and policies.
The contents of this workshop report summarizes each of the presentations made by experts and subsequent discussions, and does not necessarily reflect the views or a consensus of all participants. This report does not attempt to resolve any contrasting opinions between presenters or participants, but rather to capture the key elements of each presentation made during the workshop.
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AMSP documents and reports
Background papers
The following subject areas or themes were used to assist PAME in the development of an Arctic Marine Strategic Plan for the Arctic Council.
Background Papers
Arctic Shipping Activites into the next Decade
Understanding Science
Ips paper
Oil and gas Activities in the Arctic Part 1
Oil and gas Activities in the Arctic Part 2
Environmental Impacts of offshore oil and gas development in the Arctic
Ocean Governance and its implementation: Guiding Principles for the Arctic Region
Ecosystem - Based Approaches for Conserving Artic Biodiversity
Financial and Partnership Approaches in Addressing, Land-Based
Environmental Emergencias and Risk Management
Other documents
In order to ensure broad-based input and facilitate the development of a strategic plan, Iceland and Canada co-hosted a workshop in Reykjavik, Iceland, October 20-22, 2003. The principle objective of this workshop was to provide a forum for exchanging information and ideas on drivers of change, trends in oceans management and possible circumpolar responses to Arctic oceans issues.
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AMSP Communications Plan to support understanding and involvement on the implementation of the Strategic Plan.
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