The SAO-based Marine Mechanism
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Arctic Council advances its marine stewardship role
The Arctic Council launched a new marine cooperative initiative at the end of September to discuss the increasing pressures on the Arctic marine ecosystem and coastal communities in the circumpolar North. Policy makers, Indigenous peoples and marine experts from the Arctic States and the Arctic Council’s Observers gathered online for a five-week webinar series on Arctic marine matters. The interactive online meetings provided a platform for the Arctic Council to enhance cooperation and coordination on marine issues. Learn more.
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New acronym: SMM
SMM stands for Senior Arctic Officials based Marine Mechanism. The SMM is a new marine cooperation initiative that the Arctic Council launched in September 2020. The interactive format brings together marine experts and knowledge holders from across the Arctic States, Indigenous peoples' organizations and from a range of Observer States and Organizations. Jointly with the Senior Arctic Officials and the Permanent Participants they discuss how the Council can pave the way forward on some of the most pressing marine-related issues in the Arctic.
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The SMM: An overview in three interviews
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Ambassador Einar Gunnarsson, Chair of the Senior Arctic Officials
Ambassador Gunnarsson gives an overview of the strengths and weaknesses of the Arctic Council's marine-related work and outlines the way forward.
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Mary Frances Davidson and Magnús Jóhannesson, the SMM moderators
The moderators summarize key points and ideas that were presented and discussed during the four thematic webinars that built the backbone of the SMM.
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Watch the keynote and expert presentations
The webinar series included pre-recorded keynote addresses and expert presentations that have been shared publicly following each webinar. Watch them here.
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Indigenous peoples' perspectives on the ocean
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Suggestions from the coast: An Inuit perspective
Jim Stotts, president of the Alaskan chapter of the Inuit Circumpolar Council (ICC), talks about the importance of the marine environment for Inuit, environmental changes and ICC’s suggestions to adjust the Council’s Arctic Marine Strategic Plan to match challenges that have arisen since the plan was adopted in 2015. Read his interview here.
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Healthy communities need healthy oceans: An Athabaskan perspective
Chief Gary Harrison is chairman of the Chickaloon Native Village, located North-East of Anchorage, Alaska, and representative of the Arctic Athabaskan Council. As the Arctic Council is enhancing its cooperation on marine issues, we spoke to Chief Harrison about the importance of the ocean to Athabaskan communities and some of his main concerns related to the marine environment. Read his interview here.
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At the doorway to the Arctic: An Aleut perspective
As the northern waterways open up to container vessel traffic, the Aleut people find themselves at the doorstep to Arctic shipping. Once the Northern Sea Route is traversable for more than six months a year, the shorter route to Europe will become profitable to shippers in Japan, Korea and China. This will bring a major shift to global shipping and to the Aleut Region. Read the article.
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Exploring the Arctic Ocean
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The agreement that protects an unknown ecosystem
As the ice continues to retreat, waters of the Arctic Ocean that were previously only accessible to heavy icebreakers could soon open up and attract commercial fishing vessels. Yet, little is known about the ecosystem emerging below the ice. The Arctic coastal states therefore decided to prevent commercial fishing until better scientific knowledge was available and signed the International Agreement to Prevent Unregulated Fishing in the High Seas of the Central Arctic Ocean. Learn more in our interview with Maya Gold.
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Life in the Arctic Ocean
Join Dr Libby Logerwell on an expedition into the waters of the Arctic Ocean. Dr Logerwell is a marine biologist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Co-Chair of our Working Group on the Protection of the Arctic Marine Environment (PAME) and one of the experts who joined the Arctic Council’s initiative to enhance marine coordination. Together with her we are exploring the rich life in the Arctic Ocean and the challenges it faces as the habitat changes. Explore the Arctic Ocean now.
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Featured tools and reports
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 Report on Heavy Fuel Oil in the Arctic
The Arctic Council's Working Group on the Protection of the Arctic Marine Environment (PAME) issued its second Arctic Shipping Status Report – Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO) Use by Ships in the Arctic 2019. The report provides information on fuels used by ships in the Arctic in 2019 with a focus on heavy fuel oils. It shows that 10% of ships in Arctic waters as defined by the International Maritime Organization’s Polar Code burned HFO as fuel. Learn more.
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Circumpolar Oil Spill Response Viability Analysis Online Tool
Oil spills are a major concern in the Arctic. Besides the major environmental and social impact on vulnerable human communities and animal species, the harsh conditions in the region can make oil spill response extremely difficult. To improve oil spill response in the Arctic marine environment, the Arctic Council’s Emergency Prevention, Preparedness and Response (EPPR) Working Group conducted a study of oil spill response viability for the circumpolar North and developed an online tool. Learn more.
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The Arctic Council's social corner
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Did you know...
that all of our Working Groups and many of the Permanent Participants are on social media? Thumbs up and like from our side! Have you followed them yet for unique news and insights?
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