Subsistence hunters from Chukotka, as well as officials from government agencies and environmentalists met in Anchorage for discussions on oil spill response in the Bering Strait.
Russia’s already strained diplomatic relationship with the U.S. is degrading further amid renewed reports of a military presence in the Ukraine. But a conference underway this week is trying to work around sanctions and rhetoric in order to focus on mutual interests in the Bering Sea. The delegation from Russia is in Alaska to prepare for oil spills and increased marine traffic in the region.
“In the summer the most important species are whale and walrus,” said Kalianto, himself a hunter, through a translator. “And the main concern of hunters are pollution in the environment and the potential effect of oil spills on marine mammals and the ecosystem’s productivity.”
“In terms of the oil spill response preparedness,” Zdor explained in Russian through the same translator, “there’s no support. This is actually a big problem and a big issue, the communities don’t get any information about industrial activity, and it’s something that’s a big part of our work: to make sure the government and companies do provide information about planned industrial activities.”
The meeting was organized by the World Wildlife Fund, which has had an interest in Arctic environmental conservation for two decades.
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