ARCTIC OCEAN
Photo by: Matt Covington
The Arctic Ocean’s 5.4 million square miles border Russia, Norway, Iceland, Greenland/Denmark, Canada, and the United States. The Arctic Ocean is the smallest of the world’s oceans, but due to the extreme polar climate and the seasonal dynamics of sea ice presence and extent, it poses unique challenges to providing research support on the Arctic Ocean and Arctic sea ice.
Compounding the physical and environmental conditions are complex political relationships across multiple nations, interactions with marine wildlife, and working around coastlines that are populated in some areas and desolate in others. Battelle ARO has addressed these challenges with coordinated efforts across different countries to stage for, and gain access to, the sea ice, sea ice camps, and research vessels.
Photo by: Mark Teckenbrock
BATTELLE ARO ARCTIC OCEAN
ARCTIC OCEAN
Battelle ARO has coordinated efforts across different countries to stage for, and gain access to, the sea ice, sea ice camps, and research vessels providing access to the Arctic Ocean’s 5.4 million square miles border Russia, Norway, Iceland, Greenland/Denmark, Canada, and the United States.
Other information resources for the Arctic Ocean include the following:
- University-National Oceanographic Laboratory System (UNOLS) – to request U.S. Coast Guard and UNOLS vessels, and shared-use equipment.
- Ship-based Science Technical Support in the Arctic (STARC) – Planning and technical services for cruises on the USCGC Healy.
- Arctic Research Icebreaker Consortium (ARICE) – A strategy for marine-based research in the Arctic
- R/V Sikuliaq CECSOP Community and Environmental Compliance Standard Operating Procedures
- Arctic Icebreaker Coordinating Committee overview
Photo from ARMAP
Environmental Compliance
Vessel projects may be subject to review by NOAA/NMFS and USFWS under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) and under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act (ESA). MMPA and ESA apply to waters under the jurisdiction of the United states (200 nautical miles from the coast).
Battelle ARO can assist researchers in determining if their project will be doing work in areas that could impact marine mammals, threatened and endangers species, essential fish habitat or a species critical habitat. For projects likely to have adverse effects, the consultation process could take between 6 to 7 months.
For more information on consultation with NOAA and USFWS on Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act and the Marine Mammal Protection act:
Additionally, all vessel projects need to consider any subsistence hunting conflicts. Researchers should plan to engage with local Arctic communities to ensure the vessel track is not infringing on subsistence hunting.