NOME, AK — The Marine Mammals Commission hasn’t traveled above the Arctic Circle since 1987, but this week, Commissioners were in Western Alaska to meet face-to-face with Alaska Natives and find out more about climate change, subsistence hunting, and concerns regarding marine mammals in the region.
The MMC is a tiny federal agency. “It was voiced in our village meeting ‘Who is the MMC?’” laughed walrus hunter Clyde Oxereok. He was chosen by his village council to represent Wales at a listening session hosted by the MMC.
“We learned who they are, what they do, they’re not a regulating entity,” said Oxereok. “They’re willing to hear the responses of the native villages’ subsistence hunters, and that always helps.”
Commissioners came to Alaska to find out, among other things, how subsistence hunting is changing. Austin Ahmasuk of Nome told Commissioners changes are “dramatic and unprecedented.”
“One of my first memories as a young hunter was sitting next to my grandpa on a walrus hunt, and much is different,” said Ahmasuk. “My grandfather probably would not understand some of the things that are occurring, and I don’t know if he would have had the knowledge to reflect upon what kind of impacts we are experiencing as a result of climate change,” he said.
MMC members made stops in Barrow and Kotzebue before arriving in Nome. They were also scheduled to travel to St. Lawrence Island, but poor weather forced them to cancel that trip. The group was able to visit Shishmaref. Even so, Marie Ketchiak scolded the commission.
“If I wanted to learn something about something, I would go there,” she said.
She told commissioners haven’t collected enough first-hand information.
“We have three large villages: Savoonga, Shishmaref and Stebbins. That’s where all your subsistence people are. Sitting around the table here? It’s fine, but you need to meet with the people,” said Ketchiak.
The MMC is made up of three Commissioners and nine scientific advisors. Together, they provide oversight of science, policy, and management for all marine mammals throughout the country.
Commissioner Daryl Boness admits the group’s size limits its reach. He says he was surprised to find out many Alaskans had never heard of the group.
“In most of the places we went, [we got] the question of ‘where have you been?’” he said.
He says it’s clear the Commission needs to improve upon its communication efforts.
“So, it’s always good to be – I won’t say ‘put in your place,’ but it’s always good to be told your weaknesses.” he said.
Boness said the next step is to take what they’ve learned from their meeting with people in Northwestern Alaska and turn that information into recommendations for federal regulatory agencies, including the National Marine Fisheries Service and the US Fish and Wildlife Service.
