A Voyage Through the Arctic Post #7

Utqiagvik. Credit: Mabel Baldwin-Schaeffer/NOAA Fisheries.

The marine environment is not just a resource but a fundamental part of the character and livelihood of rural and Indigenous communities in Alaska. It is a cornerstone for their cultural, economic, social, and spiritual identities. The growing recognition of the wide-ranging impact of natural resource management practices, such as access and allocation policies, on these marine resource-dependent communities underscores the pressing need for effective, collaborative approaches to resource assessment and management.

I want to express my deep gratitude for the opportunity to engage with you, the people of Alaska. As an Alaska Native female federal government science employee, I feel a new and unique perspective can be brought to light. I am honored to be part of the work occurring in rural Alaska. It's an honor to provide any support within my role. Thank you for allowing me to return to places I consider home and have meaningful conversations with those who take time away from their work and families to ensure their voices are at a table where, in the past, subsistence decisions were made on their behalf and without their input.

The development of the national, comprehensive NOAA Fisheries Equity and Environmental Justice (EEJ) Strategyin 2023, prompted by executive orders emphasizing environmental justice, is a testament to this commitment. This Strategy reflects our respect and consideration for marine resource-dependent communities and our desire to prioritize equity and environmental justice in all our projects and services.

Kodiak public meeting. Credit: Mabel Baldwin-Schaeffer/NOAA Fisheries.

Through this effort, we are enhancing engagement with rural and Indigenous communities and other underserved groups, including small boat operators and plant workers, not as a mere formality but as a sincere and dedicated effort to bridge worldviews and foster improved dialogue. We are committed to ensuring that all voices are heard and shared values are reflected in NOAA Fisheries' work: research and management. The Alaska Implementation Plan, which builds off the Strategy, is tailored to Alaska's unique needs and circumstances and reflects the diversity of underserved communities in Alaska.

As a member of the Alaska EEJ workgroup, a dedicated team responsible for implementing the Strategy, I am proud to play a crucial role. Our efforts are divided into two phases. The first phase involved contacting Alaska Native Tribes and communities to hear our state's voices and include them in the Alaska Implementation Plan.

Each regional teleconference was designed to be inclusive, with the purpose of sharing information about the Strategy and gathering input from a diverse range of people we hope to represent. During each teleconference, staff shared EEJ core areas and goals and welcomed feedback on barriers and areas for improvement. Staff also sought recommended contact points and shared ways for community members to get involved. While we acknowledge that participation was not as high as we had hoped, we were pleased to see diverse representation from rural communities, Native organizations, fishing organizations, and corporations across the state. Per invitation, the Alaska EEJ workgroup also attended Tribal and fishery forums and shared the same information.

Some of the questions we asked underserved communities in our outreach and engagement efforts are to understand their needs and concerns better. The guiding questions include:

1. How can we improve science and management for sustainable fisheries, protected resources, and marine ecosystems to better serve remote Alaskan communities?
2. What types of information regarding our science and management are you interested in receiving from us?
3. How can we best provide that information to you (e.g., emails, publications, presentations)?

We heard some suggested areas of improvement during the teleconferences (verbal and written submissions) that articulated the following themes: 1) Communication, 2) Technical/Logistics, 3) Capacity, 4) Co-Production, 5) Engagement, and 6) Suggestions. We identified forty-five concepts within those six themes to help establish and foster collaborative relationships. Some recommendations were prevalent across several teleconferences, such as 'Increase NOAA's capacity in social science/Tribal engagement/Traditional ecological knowledge.' Some more specific suggestions include 'Improve outreach methods (i.e., utilize local radio stations and/or newspapers'), compared to general ones, such as 'Recognize cultural importance of fisheries'.

A word cloud of repeated terms from written and verbal submissions. Larger sized terms depicts more word usage. Credit: NOAA Fisheries.

Phase 2 engagement efforts, planned for fall 2024 and spring 2025, include in-person meetings in key hub locations statewide to hear first-hand the unique challenges Alaskan underserved communities face. These locations were selected based on their significance as regional centers and their accessibility to a wide range of communities. These in-person meetings will provide the opportunity for a deeper and more direct understanding of these communities' specific concerns and needs. For example, in fall 2023 and spring 2024, we visited Kotzebue and Kodiak, where we held public meetings and conducted smaller meetings with those who expressed interest, such as an Alaska Native corporation, fishery coalitions, and small boat operators. At those meetings, attendees expressed their desire for co-management. Another shared that their voice would struggle at a Council meeting, especially for speaking on behalf of subsistence users of a non-commercial species. At all the meetings in Kotzebue and Kodiak, attendees expressed their appreciation for the presence of NOAA in their community.

To continue the dialogue and hear voices in other parts of the state, upcoming regional hub location meetings will be held in Utqiagvik, Sitka, and Fairbanks. These meetings are not just important; they are crucial for us to understand and address the unique challenges faced by your communities. We look forward to these meetings and the opportunity to hear your voices. The meetings will take place at the best time for those communities and surrounding villages. We will continue to seek input on how NOAA can provide resources to support participants, such as securing funds to cover travel costs for Tribal members outside these regional hubs to attend meetings. This is to expand NOAA Fisheries' efforts to ensure that no community is underserved. We also have an Indigenous Engagement sitewhere you can learn more about our engagement efforts and find resources that may interest your community.

Map of EEJ locations. Credit: Mabel Baldwin-Schaeffer/NOAA Fisheries.

NOAA Fisheries welcomes your feedback on how we can better serve Alaskan communities. Please contact the Alaska EEJ workgroup with any questions or comments at [email protected].

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