PAME is one of six Arctic Council working groups. PAME was first established under the 1991 Arctic Environmental Protection Strategy and was continued by the 1996 Ottawa Charter that established the Arctic Council.
PAME is the focal point of the Arctic Council’s activities related to the protection and sustainable use of the Arctic marine environment and provides a unique forum for collaboration on a wide range of activities in this regard.
PAME's mandate: "To address marine policy measures and other measures related to the conservation and sustainable use of the Arctic marine and coastal environment in response to environmental change and from both land and sea-based activities, including non-emergency pollution prevention control measures such as coordinated strategic plans as well as developing programs, assessments and guidelines, all of which aim to complement or supplement efforts and existing arrangements for the for the protection and sustainable development of the Arctic marine environment."
PAME operates largely within these themes:
- Arctic Shipping
- Marine Protected Areas
- Resource Exploration and Development
- Ecosystem Approach to Management
- Arctic Marine Strategic Plan 2015-2025
- Arctic Marine Pollution
PAME carries out activities as set out in bi-annual work plans approved by the Arctic Council on the recommendation of the Senior Arctic Officials. These activities led by PAME include circumpolar and regional action programmes and guidelines complementing existing legal arrangements aimed at protection of the Arctic marine environment from both land and sea-based activities. PAME works in close collaboration with the other five Arctic Council Working Groups.
The PAME Working Group consists of National Representatives responsible for its work in their respective countries. Permanent Participants, representing Arctic indigenous groups, also participate in PAME, as well as representatives of several observer countries and interested organisations. PAME provides a unique forum for collaboration on wide range of Arctic marine environmental issues.
The PAME WG generally meets twice a year to assess progress of work, discuss program priorities and develop its biennial work plans. The PAME WG is headed by a chair and vice-chair, which rotate among the Arctic countries and is supported by an International Secretariat, based in Akureyri, Iceland. PAME reports to the Senior Arctic Officials, and through them, to the Ministers of the Arctic Council that meets every two years.
Every two years, a summary report for the work of PAME during each biennium is created. These reports give insight into PAME's work in each of its six working themes.
The PAME Main Achievements 2019-2021 was one of PAME's deliverables in 2021.
PAME Chairmanship
PAME's Chair:
Dr. Jessica Nilsson
Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management
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PAME Vice-Chair
Elizabeth McLanahan
Director
Office of International Affairs
For the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
U.S. Department of Commerce
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PAME Secretariat Staff
Executive Secretary
Soffia Gudmundsdottir
Mobile: + 354 863 8576
Email: pame(at)pame.is
Executive Assistant
Olga Pálsdóttir
Tel: +354 462 3350
Mobile: + 354 861 6636
Email: olga(at)pame.is
Project Manager
Hjalti Þór Hreinsson
Tel: +354 462 3357
Email: hjalti(at)pame.is