Scientists Call for No-fish Zone in Arctic Waters. Thousands of scientists from 67 countries have called for an international agreement to close the Arctic high seas to commercial fishing until research reveals more about the freshly exposed waters. Recent Arctic sea ice retreat during the summer months have opened up some of the waters that fall outside of the exclusive economic zones of the nations that circle the polar ocean. In all, more than 2.8 million square kilometres make up these international waters, which some scientists say could be ice free during summer months within 10 to 15 years. Although industrial fishing hasn't yet occurred in the northernmost part of the Arctic, the lack of regulation may make it an appealing target for international commercial fishing vessels. Nature

Arctic Ocean Could be Source of Greenhouse Gas: Study. The Arctic Ocean could be a significant contributor of methane, a powerful greenhouse gas, scientists reported on Sunday. Researchers carried out five flights in 2009 and 2010 to measure atmospheric methane in latitudes as high as 82 degrees north. They found concentrations of the gas close to the ocean surface, especially in areas where sea ice had cracked or broken up. Fox News 

Successful Visit by Chinese Head of State in Iceland. Premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China Wen Jiabao was on an official visit in Iceland last weekend, described as successful by Icelandic Minister for Foreign Affairs Össur Skarphéðinsson. Össur told Morgunblaðið that he is not concerned that China might try to take advantage of Iceland's economic situation, referring to declarations made by the Chinese leader during a meeting with his Icelandic counterpart. Iceland Review

New Source of Methane Discovered: the Arctic Ocean. It has been known for some time that large quantities of methane lie hidden in reservoirs under the permafrost layers on the tundra and in clathrates on the continental shelves. It is not a secret that those large quantities of gas might be released due to the warming of our planet, which will result in positive climate feedback making it even warmer. But now NASA researchers have found a new methane source that might have global consequences: the Arctic Ocean. Bits of Science  

Environment Canada to Monitor What Scientists Say: No access to media at polar summit. Government media minders are being dispatched to an international polar conference in Montreal to monitor and record what Environment Canada scientists say to reporters. The scientists will present the latest findings on everything from seabirds to Arctic ice, and Environment Canada's media office plans to intervene when the media approaches the researchers, Postmedia News has learned. Montreal Gazette

Remote Little Diomede Perched Between Past and Future. Build it and they will come. Don't and they will pass by. This is the trendy, yet sincere, Arctic call-to-action about ports and ice breakers among big thinkers who plan for the future and fear what will happen if others don't. All of the societal issues that get policy makers worked up - economies and commerce, health, transportation, education, environment, national defense - are precariously encased in the vision of an ice-free Arctic bustling with industry and tourism. In the middle of all of this sits Little Diomede, a village of about 100 people where Ingalikmiut Eskimos still live off the land, hunting polar bears and other marine mammals for food. Alaska Dispatch 

Lessons From Third World Could Help Fix Circumpolar Health Crisis: Experts. In an era of federal government cutbacks, some of the strategies used to provide low-cost health solutions in Africa and other areas of the poor developing world could be used in the circumpolar region, experts said April 22 at a conference in Montreal. That's among the suggestions proposed during a panel on global health and circumpolar perspectives held in Montreal, as the International Polar Year science conference gets underway. Nunatsiaq Online

Oil Spill Contained at Russia's Trebs Arctic Field. An incident that has led to oil spill has occurred on April 20 at Russia's Arctic Trebs oil field, the regional Emergencies Ministry said on Sunday. "An accident occurred at the oilfield at 5.30 pm Moscow time on Friday, oil began rushing," a ministry spokesman said. Rescuers arrived on Saturday, and the rush of oil was terminated on Sunday. RIA Novosti 

No Arctic legislation was formally considered Friday.

The Arctic Imperative Summit, August 24-28, 2012. The summit will be hosted by Alaska Dispatch and will bring together leading voices in this conversation, including residents from the small villages that comprise Alaska's coastal communities, state, national and international leaders, the heads of shipping and industry, as well as international policymakers and the news media. The goal of the summit is to sharpen the focus on the policy and investment needs of Alaska's Arctic through a series of high level meetings, presentations, investor roundtables and original research. Click here.