Don't get me wrong here, I'm not a big-time tree hugger. But, I am growing more and more concerned with changes in the ocean environment,as it affects native populations worldwide. My concerns involve things such as climate change and resulting impact on wildlife such as the Polar bear, or large commercial fishing "factories" taking massive amounts of fish such as Pollock (so we can eat fish-sticks and cakes at Long John Silvers). When things change like this, it's usually those way down the chain that suffer the most.
One example this summer involves the decline in Alaskan salmon runs up major rivers such as the Yukon. Native villages that rely on subsistence fishing this time of year, so as to get through the winter, are suffering. And, in 2007 I visited several native villages in Alaska and the Bering Sea region that reported a decline in the number of whales being taken during fishing season. They told us that a typical village needs 4-5 whales a year to get their tight-knit community through the winter. Sure, other foodstuffs are available, but at a significant cost, due to the remoteness of these villages, and expenses involved in transporting food.
The above photograph was taken at Savoonga, AK on St. Lawrence Island in the Western Bering Sea. These are hearty people with a wonderful traditional way of life. It's sad to see the possibility of such a life slowly going away because of things others are doing.
