The federal government has announced it won't allow any new commercial fisheries in the Beaufort Sea without further research.
The move was immediately applauded by environmental groups, who have been calling for Canada to match a similar policy in the United States.
Scientists say Arctic fisheries may benefit as climate change forces commercial fish species further north.
There is no commercial fishing in the Beaufort Sea right now, but there have been eight applications for exploratory fishing licences since 2002.
The government's new policy also says that aboriginal fishers will get first dibs on any new fishing opportunities in Beaufort waters, which are located off Canada's northwest Arctic coast.
