To provide decision makers with the information they need to promote wellness of valuable marine resources, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has come up with an Alaskan regional action plan (RAP) to fight the effects of climate change.
The plan is a part of the larger implementation of the NOAA Fisheries Climate Science Strategy. Alaska is one of 6 coastal areas to receive a specialized plan. According to the press release, “the RAPs help address the growing demand for information and tools to prepare for and respond to climate impacts on marine and coastal resources, and the many people and communities that depend on them.” NOAA has tailored a plan for Alaska’s Arctic because of the value of the region’s lucrative commercial fisheries, its marine and avian diversity, and its subsistence culture — all of which stand to be impacted by rising temperatures in the Bering Sea. Regional demand is growing, NOAA says, for actionable information on the effects of climate change.
The Alaska regional plan currently includes 30 already ongoing efforts including research on sea ice loss, ocean acidification, standard ecosystem monitoring, and more.
The NOAA Fisheries Climate Science Strategy will be fully implemented in the region over the next three to five years.
