Bering Science: Spring 2020 Bering Region Ocean Update

Speakers:
Molly McCammon (AOOS)
Rick Thoman (ACCAP)
Maggie Mooney-Seus – Alaska Fisheries Science Center
Kathy Kuletz – USFWS Migratory Birds Management
Robb Kaler – USFWS Migratory Birds Management

The Bering Sea is undergoing rapid unprecedented change. Sea ice extent in the late winters of 2018 and 2019 were by far the lowest recorded since satellite monitoring began in 1978. And even though sea ice and air temperatures were closer to “normal” this past winter, environmental change is having profound impacts on the fish, bird and marine mammals of the Bering Sea, as well as the peoples of the region who depend on these resources.

Using funds from a national Ocean Data Sharing Initiative, the Alaska Ocean Observing System is working with partners foster greater sharing of ocean-related observations and information. We will be presenting some new data and information products, based on the needs of federal and state agency managers, coastal communities, tribes, and private industry, and invite webinar participants and other residents of western Alaska to join our conversation about their observations and their needs.

Here is the Bering Science: Spring 2020 report which was written for a general audience and is intended to be the first of several reports published annually. To be included on future mailing lists, contact Jill Prewitt.

Funding for this publication was provided to AOOS from a national initiative to increase sharing of ocean and coastal data. AOOS is focusing on the Bering Sea region for the initial phase of this project. More information can be found at www.beringregionoceandata.org.

The team still wants to hear feedback on the first report!
Postcard included on mailed reports (boxholders from Shishmaref to Dillingham)
Online: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/beringreport
Email: beringregion@aoos.org

Southeastern Bering Sea Saildrone Survey
Vessels: 3 saildrones
Dates: July 1 to Sept 1
POC: Alex.DeRobertis@noaa.gov, NOAA Fisheries/AFSC
Track survey progress on our website: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/feature-story/ocean-going-robots-poised-enter-bering-sea-start-unconventional-fisheries-survey

DBO: Plankton, Larval Fish, and Whale Acoustics
Vessel: NOAA Ship Oscar Dyson
Dates: August 24-September 27
POCs: Janet.Duffy-Anderson@noaa.gov, Libby.Logerwell@noaa.gov, Catherine Berchok@noaa.gov, AFSC