Arctic Economics

Where is the Beaufort Sea boundary between the U.S. and Canada?

The U.S. Secretary of Commerce approved the North Pacific Fishery Management Council's new Arctic Fishery Management Plan last week.  The plan defers commercial fishing until there is more information about the fish stocks and possible social and ecosystem impacts.

It's also drawn attention to a border dispute between the U.S. and Canada. 

The Canadian's think their Beaufort Sea boundary with the U.S. is a linear extension of the national boundaries on the adjacent mainland - the U.S. thinks the boundary starts out at a 90 degree angle to the shoreline.  The map above shows the disputed area.

Are there enough people in Greenland for a whole country?

Greenlanders have been pressing for more autonomy from Denmark, and looking forward to independence.  Anne Sibert asks, "Undersized: Could Greenland be the new Iceland? Should it be?"  Greenland has 60,000 people, is that enough for a nation-state?

She points out that: