Polar Law: Alaska

Organized by University of Akureyri 7. September 2017

The session explores three pressing legal issues in Alaska. First of all, Professor Norchi assesses whether and how the United States can secure sovereign rights to the resources of the Outer Continental Shelf beyond 200 nautical miles whilst remaining outside of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Saturday, October 14, 16:00 - 17:30
Location: Viðey, Second Level

Dr Schane explains and evaluates Alaskan measures to ensure that indigenous communities benefit from the development of local fisheries and asks what lessons can be learned from other industries in the Arctic. Miss Mackie examines the interplay between climate change, projections for ice-loss and the designation of species as ‘threatened’ under the Endangered Species Act.

Speakers:

Charles Norchi, Professor of Law, Director, Center for Oceans and Coastal Law, University of Maine School of Law & Fulbright-Ministry for Foreign Affairs Arctic Scholar: The Extended Continental Shelf of the American Arctic: Lex Imperfecta?
Demian Schane, Attorney-Advisor, National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Office of General Counsel: Involving Alaska Native communities in the Development of Commercial Fisheries: A Review of Community Development Quota Program and Its Potential for Broader Application
Sarah Mackie, PhD Candidate, Newcastle Law School; Visiting Researcher, Harvard Law School: When the Ice Melts - Using Climate Change Predictions in Endangered Species Designations in Arctic Alaska

Chair:

Claire Wallace, M.A. Polar law candidate, University of Akureyri