Seals and Us: Ways We can Make a Difference

Quyana // Thank You

This article is the third in a three-part series about subsistence practices in the face of climate change. The first article outlines the connection between the Sugpiaq and Alaska Native people of southcentral Alaska and the land, as seen through the lens of seal subsistence. The second introduces ways that climate change is impacting seal populations, and in turn regional subsistence activity surrounding Kenai Fjords National Park. This final article explores projects that are underway to address some of these climate stressors.

We want to express our heartfelt gratitude to our partner, Chugach Regional Resources Commission for their collaboration on this series and for their vital work in this region. We also want to deeply thank the generations of Elders that have carried and shared their invaluable knowledge and wisdom about their land.

All Things are Connected

Since time immemorial, Sugpiaq People have been living and thriving in relation with the land and sea of southcentral Alaska. Through generations of close environmental observation, Sugpiaq People have grown a deep and personal knowledge of the cycles of the earth, from seasons to tides and weather. Harvesting food from the earth and ocean (a way of life known as subsistence) is particularly important to Sugpiaq physical, cultural, and spiritual health.

In recent times, Elders have shared how they have noticed their home transform due to climate change and our collective human impact. As Port Graham Elder, Walter Meganack Jr. explains, “Nature changes. Man changes. Is it natural? I feel that changes are more pronounced now. Change is happening at a faster pace now than before” (Imam Cimiucia). He goes on to say, “If you think about it long enough, you’ll find that all things are connected. If you are affecting one, you are doing a whole chain reaction.”

Umiaq'gku cillakcak, ikugciqan cacat uy'ullartut. Allinguq cimiqan, nangpia cimirciqut. // If you think about it long enough, you'll find that all things are connected. If you are affecting one, you are doing a whole chain reaction.

—Walter Meganack Jr., Elder, Port Graham, 2004 quoted in Sugt'stun in Imam Cimiucia

• Addressing Marine Debris
• Addressing Harmful Algal Blooms
• Addressing Ocean Acidification
• Addressing Our Connection to Climate Change

Addressing Issues Affecting Seals and Our Ocean Ecosystems

Under the direction of Elders, scientists, and other natural resource experts, various projects are underway, prioritizing understanding and mitigating the impacts of climate change on the southcentral Alaskan ecosystem. With work and motivation, we can start to address our impact and ensure that future generations can continue to thrive in this area.

Addressing Marine Debris

Marine debris, or trash that accumulates in the ocean, is a global problem, but is particularly detrimental to Alaskan ecosystems. In recent years the amount of debris accumulation has increased, in part due to population growth and greater visitation, as well as ocean currents that ferry debris from places as distant as Russia, Japan, and China (Polasek et al.). Alaska’s coastline spans 46,600 miles, longer than the shorelines of all the lower 48 states combined (NOAA). With a limited road system, many places in Alaska are only accessible via boat. This, combined with a large fishing industry and many Alaska Native communities that rely on the ocean for subsistence, make marine debris a major stressor for Alaskan coastal ecosystems and the people that rely on them.

Kenai Fjords National Park works with partner organizations and community to remove marine debris from the coast.

NPS Photo

Efforts to combat marine debris in Alaska are growing across the state, with projects focusing on cleanup, prevention, and education. From the development of bio-based alternatives for single use plastic fishing gear (NOAA), to educational radio programs, local events and school programs, Alaskans are working together to tackle the challenge head on. The National Parks Service, recognizing the heavy traffic in its coastal Alaskan parks, has been conducting marine debris studies at five parks since 2009. Kenai Fjords, in partnership with Resurrection Bay Conservation Alliance, organizes marine debris collection trips at designated “catcher beaches” within the park as well as on Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge lands and several beaches on Port Graham Corporation holdings. As one debris collector puts it, “We’re all in this together. Good stewardship has no jurisdiction” (RBCA). The majority of the debris found during beach cleanups consists of hard plastic, with foam and rope or netting accounting for the rest (Polasek et al.). Studies have shown that debris in the region is mostly carried by winter storms from the Gulf of Alaska, making annual clean-up efforts essential.

Addressing Harmful Algal Blooms

Another significant threat to ecosystem health in the region is harmful algal blooms (HABS). This phenomenon occurs when algae grow rapidly, producing harmful levels of biotoxins that can accumulate in filter-feeding organisms such as shellfish. When humans or and other animals consume toxic shellfish, it can cause illness and even death. Toxic shellfish disrupt important subsistence practices for Sugpiaq People in south central Alaska, especially in remote villages where shellfish have been a necessary source of sustenance since time immemorial. As James Kvasnikoff from the community of Nanwalek puts it when describing shellfish, “[They] are a survival resource. Here in Nanwalek, jobs aren’t as they are in cities. There are families that have no income. They are completely dependent on subsistence resources. It is a meal put on the table. It is survival. We have no choice.” Additionally, due to the remote nature of many of the villages, transportation to a healthcare facility could take many hours if not days.

Naomi McMullen, CRRC Community Sampler from Port Graham.

Photo courtesy of Chugach Regional Resources Commission

The Chugach Regional Resources Commission (CRRC) and its subsidiary, the Alutiiq Pride Marine Institute (APMI), conduct research and monitoring of HABS to empower village communities with up-to-date information about toxin levels in the marine environment. Community samplers in each of the seven Tribal communities collect plankton samples using tow nets every two weeks. These samples are then tested through microscopy and quantitative polymerase chain reactions to detect the harmful algae species and measure their abundance. Additionally, scientists at APMI also test shellfish directly. While not a regulatory agency, CRRC shares its findings with its service communities so Tribal members and subsistence users can make informed harvest decisions. Along with the immediate benefits of this crucial monitoring work, APMI’s data contributes to establishing a baseline understanding of oceanic conditions in the region, which will be critical for tracking future environmental changes.

Harmful algal blooms also have the potential to harm multiple layers of the connected coastal ecosystem - potentially affecting bird, marine mammal and human health in addition to shellfish. CRRC, as part of a collaborative effort Chugach Imaq, is also leading efforts to create a harvest management plan to benefit marine mammals. This will include harbor seal bio-sampling from regular subsistence harvests to better support the health and well-being of these animals - and the subsistence and cultural connections intertwined.

Addressing Ocean Acidification

Sugpiaq communities have noticed a decline in bidarkis (chitons), a prized source of food and culture.

Photo courtesy of Chugach Regional Resources Commission

In addition to HABs monitoring, CRRC is also addressing another climate-change related subsistence stressor: ocean acidification. Ocean Acidification occurs when carbon dioxide from the air is absorbed into ocean water, a process driven by the burning fossil fuels. Ultimately, this causes a transformation in the chemical makeup of seawater, changing it to be more acidic. This can have detrimental impacts on species (especially shellfish and other fish with a larval stage) that rely on stable basic conditions to reach maturity and grow their shells.

Sugpiaq communities in the region have found fewer and fewer shellfish available to be harvested for subsistence, a loss that has been felt deeply. One Elder, Simeon Kvasnikoff in Port Graham explained, “There used to be so much to eat from the ocean. You didn’t have to worry about getting them, they would be there” (Imam Cimiucia) Another community member from Port Graham, Walter Meganack Jr. noted of a specific shellfish species, “ I started noticing bidarki declines 10-15 years ago. Now you only see little ones.” Not only people recognizing bidarki decline, as Port Graham Elder, Dorothy Moonin shared in 2004, “The clams were so big, you only needed six to make a chowder. Now, you need a bucket because they are so small. You can still get them, but you have to work hard for them. You have to dig and dig and dig.”

CRRC staff and community members take regular water samples for ocean acidification monitoring.

Photo courtesy of Chugach Regional Resources Commission

While the decline of shellfish species in the region is multifaceted and cannot be attributed to only one cause, ocean acidification is likely an important stressor to these critical food sources. To work on this challenge, the Alutiiq Pride Marine Institute (APMI) frequently analyzes samples from each of the seven villages in the region and other locations state-wide. Citizen scientists and environmental coordinators from the Tribes collect water samples, measuring their salinity and temperature at the time of collection, and send them back to APMI for further analysis. Once received, APMI scientists use a device called a Burke-o-lator to measure the carbon dioxide content in the water and determine its pH level. The results, which vary by location, are shared with both local communities and the broader scientific community. This information is valuable, contributing to the understanding of long-term trends related to ocean chemistry.

As Michael Opheim, CRRC Tribal Fish & Wildlife Liaison, explains, “we’ve had more Elders say that this project is something that’s important to them because they want their grandchildren to be able to go out and harvest clams. We really want to make this sustainable and continue into the future so those younger generations have something to come back to and harvest.”

Addressing Our Connection to Climate Change

Whether by personal photo or scientific monitoring, changes seen in the ice at Kenai Fjords over days and decades tell an important story for our planet.

NPS Photo

Lack of awareness and climate literacy is a major barrier to climate action. Climate change education can help shift public perceptions, emphasizing the dire urgency of the current circumstances. Empowering people of all ages with relevant and comprehensive information helps people make more climate-conscious decisions in their own life, and pushes them to demand the same from their leadership and greater community. To aid in this, Kenai Fjords offers not only general interpretive and educational ranger programming in the summer season, but also distance learning programs for students. These virtual programs are tailored to suit K-12 students and include a lesson called Listening to the Ice, giving students a foundation for understanding the impacts of climate change, both locally and globally. The path towards climate action relies on a critical mass of people calling on leadership to prioritize our environment.

Contributing to a Way Forward

These efforts showcase community-driven collaborative projects and provide powerful examples of resilience. These projects not only strive to safeguard the regional ecosystem, they also empower local communities with tools to implement their generational knowledge in different ways. The partnership between Elders, traditional knowledge holders, scientists, and natural resource organizations is crucial when working toward a more environmentally sustainable and equitable future. Through collective action, education, and deep respect of Indigenous knowledge, we can work toward sustaining the health of the planet that has cared for our ancestors for generations.

Written by Ruby DiCarlo, National Park Service, in collaboration with Robin McKnight and Chugach Regional Resources Commission.

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