Alaska’s Oceans Are Heating Up and Locals are Dealing with the Consequences

According to CNN, the job and food security of some Alaskans are being threatened by the surrounding ice melting catastrophically fast. 

“The seas are extraordinarily warm. It is impacting the ability for Americans in the region to put food on the table right now,” explained Rick Thoman, a climate specialist at the University of Alaska. 

Temperatures in the Chukchi and North Bering seas are almost 10°F higher than normal. Thoman says these temperatures are “baking” the seas. 

Marine animals and birds are dying, and because the water temperatures are hot enough to let algal blooms grow, the ocean may become toxic to the animals in and around it. There’s no denying this is a crisis for locals who rely on fishing to feed themselves and their economy. 

“Much of what the people eat there over the course of the year comes from food they harvest themselves,” said Brian Brettschneider, a climatologist at the International Arctic Research Center. “If people can’t get out on the ice to hunt seals or whales, that affects their food security. It is a human crisis of survivability.”

Sign this petition to tell Congress to pass the Extinction Crisis Emergency Act, and to urge President Joe Biden to use the National Emergencies Act of 1976 to mobilize resources that will save animals’ and plants’ lives.

Related Content:

• Why We Need to Wake Up and Do Something to Tackle Plastic Pollution in the Oceans
• Heat Wave Kills a Terrifying Amount of Marine Wildlife
• Sharks Forced to Hide as Toxic Red Tide Sweeps Coast
• Toxic Algae Blooms Threaten Humans and Marine Animals: How We Can Make a Difference

For more Animal, Earth, Life, Vegan Food, Health, and Recipe content published daily, subscribe to the One Green Planet Newsletter! Lastly, being publicly-funded gives us a greater chance to continue providing you with high-quality content. Please consider supporting us by donating!