528 



the influence of pollution from the west could transport pollutants southwards through the 

 Bering Strait into the Bering Sea. This biological flow moves in anopposite direction to 

 the dominant ocean currents, which transport materials northward through the Bering 

 Strait 



We can't be sure that the pollutants and their effects will be confined to the Arctic. 

 Seasonal presence of migratory birds and marine mammals in the Arctic provides a 

 mechanism for possible rapid transport to north temperate latitudes. The issue of marine 

 pollution is clearly an international problem because the oceans unite all lands. As soon 

 as you introduce anything into the sea, you are influencing an environment which 

 embraces the entire planet International cooperation is the key to addressing the 

 problems. 



The University of Alaska has developed close relationships with Russian institutions 

 in a number of areas. We in the marine areas at the University of Alaska have forged 

 strong cooperative agreements with two institutes of the Far East Branch of the Russian 

 Academy of Sciences - the Marine Biological Institute and the Pacific Oceanological 

 Institute. We also work with TINRO, the Far East fishery agency in Russia. For the 

 Barents Sea, we have an agreement with the Marine Biological Institute of the Kola 

 Science Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences, based at Murmansk. This Institute 

 operates research vessels capable of sampling some of the critical areas in the Barents 

 Sea. In the Bering and Chukchi Seas, we work through the Environmental Bilateral on 

 joint cruises on board the R/V Akademic Korolev. Planning is underway between the 

 United States Fish and Wildlife Service and the State Committee for Hydrometeorology 

 of Russia for their fourth such expedition scheduled for 1993, and our scientists are 

 involved in the scientific planning and will participate in the cruise. The Institute of 

 Marine Science and colleagues from other institutions and nations regularly conduct 

 research in the Bering and Chukchi Seas using the research vessel Alpha Helix, which is 

 operated by the University of Alaska for the National Science Foundation. 



Immediate action is imperative. Even without the current questions about nuclear 

 waste disposal, there would be a need for long-term monitoring of the Alaskan arctic 

 coast Now, the urgency is increased. Carefully planned research is the only sound 

 approach to evaluating the impact of pollutants which have been discharged into the 

 Arctic Ocean. The marine portion of the work must include evaluation of distribution, 

 food chain processes and transportation mechanisms. 



