Indigenous people are an integral part of the Beaufort and Chukchi seas ecosystem, which supports a subsistence way of life that stretches back for thousands of years. For countless generations, Iñupiat residents of Arctic communities have hunted and fished in the region’s rich waters and on the sea ice that forms each winter. This subsistence way of life is inextricably connected to the health of the marine ecosystem.

As Arctic sea ice continues to melt, the Arctic Ocean is experiencing more and more ship traffic. Last year, we saw the second lowest sea ice minimum on record, meaning there was less ice in the Arctic last summer than during any other summer in recorded history except one. Less ice means more shipping and more risk to the Arctic ecosystem.

For hundreds of years, the sea ice in the Arctic has been a natural barrier to shipping routes across the top of the globe—protecting the wildlife that make the chilly waters of the Arctic their home. But as Arctic sea ice continues to melt, interest in shipping traffic is growing in remote Arctic waters—and the consequences could lead to disaster.

Increased ship traffic means increased risk of oil spills, vessel strikes, underwater noise, and both air and water pollution. Large vessels traveling through the Arctic also use heavy fuel oil—one of the most difficult fuels to clean up if spilled. An oil spill in the remote and fragile Arctic is a recipe for disaster.

You can help protect the Arctic!

Take action today by asking the U.S. Coast Guard to take steps to reduce the risks of increasing vessel traffic. We can’t wait—we need to put in place key measures to increase safety and reduce risk in the Arctic waters.