Living Marine Resources: Evolution of living resources and resource-dependent systems in response to rapid external forcing

The Bering and Chukchi sea region has experienced profound changes in physical (e.g., sea ice), biological (e.g., species composition), ecological (productivity), social (food consumption), economic (resource extraction), and political (e.g., Soviet Russia) systems. The current directional trend in climate warming in the Alaska/Chukotka region is also affecting many of these parameters through a complex array of synergies and interactions. Attaining the goals of natural resource policy and management are frequently elusive based on the complexity of these connected systems. These complexities are confounded in the marine environment with the difficulties of stock and population assessments. The addition of a directionally changing environment presents another level of uncertainty, where conditions at one time may be transient and unique, rather than transient and cyclical. The Bering/Chukchi region is currently managed through a complex array of unilateral and collaborative institutions, both formal and informal, initiated by among others, the State of Alaska, United States Federal Government, Alaska Native Organization, Russian Government, Chukotka Native Organization, local communities, and Environmental non-profits.