PAME
PAME - Protection of the Arctic Marine Environment
To develop policies and other pollution prevention and control measures to help protect Arctic waters from both land and sea-based activities.
About PAME
The Arctic marine environment is of great importance to the states of the Arctic region and the world as a whole. It holds some of the most important seas for commercial fisheries in the world, has unique socio-cultural aspects, economic potential and an integral role in climatic processes. Climatic and developmental pressures on the Arctic marine environment from shipping, dumping, offshore oil and gas development and land-based activities are increasing.
PAME addresses policy and non-emergency pollution prevention and control measures related to the protection of the Arctic marine environment from land and sea-based activities, including marine shipping, offshore oil and gas development, land-based activities and ocean disposal.
In recognition that existing and emerging activities in the Arctic warrant a more coordinated and integrated strategic approach to address the challenges of Arctic coastal marine environments, Arctic Council Ministers requested the PAME Working Group to lead the development of an Arctic Marine Strategic Plan (AMSP). The purpose of the AMSP is to guide Arctic Council activities related to the protection of the Arctic seas. An ongoing PAME activity is the Regional Programme of Action (RPA), which addresses urgent pollution problems in the Arctic marine environment stemming from land-based activities.