On 15 November 1973, at Oslo, the Agreement on the Conservation of Polar Bears was concluded by Canada, Denmark, Norway, the Soviet Union and the United States. English and Russian, equally authentic. Depositary: the Government of Norway. It is not CITES of 1973 and not the Arctic Council, established later.

The preamble: the special responsibilities and special interests of the States of the Arctic Region in the protection of its fauna and flora; the polar bear is a significant resource of the Arctic Region which requires additional protection, through co-ordinated national measures. Article I: taking shall be prohibited except as provided in Article III; “taking” includes hunting, killing and capturing. Article II: each Party shall take appropriate action to protect the ecosystems of which polar bears are a part, with special attention to habitat components such as denning and feeding sites and migration patterns, and shall manage polar bear populations in accordance with sound conservation practices based on the best available scientific data.

Article III: taking may be allowed, subject to Articles II and IV, (a) for bona fide scientific purposes; (b) by that Party for conservation purposes; (c) to prevent serious disturbance of the management of other living resources, subject to forfeiture of the skins and other items of value; (d) by local people using traditional methods in the exercise of their traditional rights and in accordance with the laws of that Party; or (e) wherever polar bears have or might have been subject to taking by traditional means by its nationals. Skins and other items of value resulting from (b) and (c) shall not be available for commercial purposes.

Article IV: the use of aircraft and large motorized vessels for the purpose of taking polar bears shall be prohibited, except where that prohibition would be inconsistent with domestic laws. Article V: a Party shall prohibit the exportation from, importation and delivery into, and traffic within, its territory of polar bears or any part or product thereof taken in violation of this Agreement. Article VI: legislation to give effect to the Agreement; Parties may impose more stringent controls. Article VII: national research programmes, co-ordination, consultation on migrating populations, exchange of data including bears taken. Article VIII: action to promote compliance by nationals of States not party. Article IX: continued consultation.

Article X: open for signature at Oslo until 31 March 1974 by the five Governments; ratification or approval, instruments deposited with Norway; accession only by those five. Entry into force ninety days after the third instrument. The United Nations Treaty Series records 26 May 1976, No. 50540, volume 2898, p. 243 (Canada, Norway, the USSR). Initially five years, then remaining in force unless a Party requests termination; denunciation after five years, taking effect twelve months later. The original is deposited at Oslo; certified copies to the United Nations under Article 102 of the Charter.

Polar bear (Ursus maritimus). The species protected by the Agreement, not the confirmed Oslo signing hall. Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.

For context: Agreement on the Conservation of Polar Bears. The text: UNTS vol. 2898, p. 243, No. 50540.