The five nation-members of the Arctic Council (Canada, Denmark, Norway, Russia, and the United States) agreed to prohibit their commercial fishing fleets from accessing the central Arctic Ocean. The accord, signed in Oslo on July 16, is a preemptive move designed to prevent degradation to fish stocks expected to migrate into the area as rising temperatures keep more of the region ice-free. The Arctic Council has also asked other nations with large fishing fleets, such as China, Vietnam, and much of the European Union, to agree to keep the area off-limits. Observers praised the agreement as an unusual example of governments acting proactively in situations concerning resources and the environment. For the full story, see http://uk.reuters.com/article/2015/07/16/us-russia-arctic-idUKKCN0PQ15N20150716.