
Reducing Risks from Vessel Traffic
Our communities are experiencing adverse impacts to our subsistence hunting, fishing, and overall food security due to increased vessel traffic and associated pollution in our traditional waters. Climate change is causing loss of seasonal sea ice in these regions and has led to increased vessel traffic—which, in turn, brings threats to the region, our people, and the ecosystems that we rely on. These include increased air, water, and subsea noise pollution and the potential for large oil and/or fuel spills. It also brings risks such as greywater and sewage discharge, litter, oily wastes, and invasive species, as well as other threats. While Federal authorities have put in place some management measures designed to reduce these threats, more action is needed to safeguard our region and our people. We are committed to working in partnership with the Bering Task Force (BTF), U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), and other relevant federal agencies to address the following issues:
Shipping Measures
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Bering Sea coastal communities need direct access to information about ships transiting the Northern Bering Sea. We support co-developing measures to track, communicate with, and monitor these vessels as well as manage harmful activities within these waterways. We request that the USCG work with Tribal communities, the Marine Exchange of Alaska to develop and implement the Arctic Watch Program.
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We seek the opportunity to provide information regarding sensitive areas to avoid and best timing for transits. In light of new and emerging maritime and communications technologies—such as geofencing and other AIS-based tools—we are interested to know what methods are available for Tribes to provide information on protections of sensitive areas especially during migration and hunting.
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We support establishing no discharge zones as well as both dynamic and permanent protections—through domestic and international measures that could include Areas to be Avoided (ATBA), Special Areas, designation of the region as an IMO Particularly Sensitive Sea Area (PSSA) with associated protective measures. These designations can help address multiple threats, including underwater noise, mammal blunt-force trauma, pollution like greywater and sewage, fuel spills and navigational safety hazards.
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We support the International Maritime Organization’s ban on heavy fuel oil (HFO) in Arctic waters. Waivers allowing U.S. flagged vessels to continue to use and carry HFO in U.S. waters should not be granted, and no exemptions should be allowed for vessels with protected fuel tanks.
Arctic Port Access Route Study (PARS)
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We urge the USCG to publish and seek public comment on draft recommended routing measures for the Alaskan Arctic Coast PARS area as quickly as possible. After the public comment period and continued meaningful engagement and consultation with the TAC we urge the Coast Guard to publish final recommended routing measures and to seek approval of those measures at the IMO.
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We further urge consideration of establishing an ATBA around Little Diomede Island and Fairway Rock. Designation of this ATBA, which was included as a recommendation in the Bering Strait PARS, was not submitted to the IMO becase the Russian Federation expressed interest in creating a joint transboundary ATBA in the Bering Strait in 2018. It may now be timely to begin a conversation about a unilateral ATBA proposal for the U.S. waters of the Bering Strait. Three ATBA were created around islands of the U.S. side of the Bering Sea maritime border with no Russian objection: St. Lawrence, Nunivak, and King Islands. We believe this type of protection is necessary in the U.S. EEZ waters around Little Diomede Island and Fairway Rock.
Prevention and Response
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There is a critical need for improved response times and capacity in the region for oil spills, groundings, and major pollution releases. In particular, we would like to discuss the USCG’s plan for implementation of the Western Alaska Oil Spill Planning Criteria included in the 2023 National Defense Authorization Act.
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Communities in the Norther Bering Sea need access to proper training and adequate tools to safely provide first-line response. Most communities along the Bering Sea lack basic equipment and training to respond to spills, marine debris incidents, and other marine emergencies. There should be pre-positioned and strategically placed response equipment and training for community members.
Consistent U.S. Coast Guard Presence in the Arctic and Bering Sea
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It is critical that the USCG have a greater presence in the Arctic and Bering Sea. Having the involvement of gateway communities would increase presence and capacity for search and rescue, monitoring, and other operations using modern tools, connectivity, infrastructure, and–most importantly–proximity. A former U.S. Coast Guard station exists on St. Paul Island and re-opening the station will provide a location that–with proper investment–can help meet Arctic security goals.