Article 8

The Arctic This Week July 13 - July 19, 2015

By Doris Friedrich,Mike McCormack, Seth Myers and Ryan Uljua July 22, 2015

Photo: Flickr/blmiers2

Welcome and thanks for joining us this week! We hope that you find TATW interesting and entertaining to read. If you’re not a subscriber yet, you can sign up here. As always, all editorial choices, opinions and any mistakes are the authors’ own. Anything that we missed? Please feel free to share material with us if you think it deserves inclusion in TATW.

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THIS WEEK’S TOP STORIES

Food costs double in Nunavut

A new study released by the Nunavut Bureau of Statistics indicates that the price of food in Nunavut is roughly double that of the rest of Canada (CBC). The study compares the price of various foods between Nunavut and the rest of the country and those with the largest discrepancies include sugar, canned beans, celery, carrots, canned tomatoes, and tomato juice (Nunavut Bureau of Statistics).

Arctic states agreed on fishing ban in Arctic Ocean

Last Thursday, the United States, Russia, Canada, Norway and Denmark agreed on banning fishing fleets from the international waters beyond the 200-mile exclusive economic zones of the five nations and around the North Pole (Reuters), also named “Arctic donut hole” (AD). The interim ban will be in place until further scientific research is done to understand the ramifications of global warming and rising water temperatures (IBT). The deal was almost completed last year, but came to a halt due to the annexation of Crimea by Russia (BBC).

Shell moves ahead with Arctic plans as icebreaker sidelined by repairs

Shell’s two drilling rigs left Unalaska, AK last week as the company prepared to undertake oil exploration activities in the Chukchi Sea (AD). Meanwhile, the icebreaker MSVFennica has made its way toward Portland, OR to undergo hull repairs following a July 3 incident near Dutch Harbor, AK. Although the Fennica is considered to be an important ship in Shell’s Chukchi fleet, the company does not believe that the repairs will cause significant disruption to its operations (AJOC). A collection of environmental groups used the incident as a further justification to protest the potential safety issues stemming from the incident in a letter to the U.S. Department of the Interior (MarEx). Debates about the effects of Shell’s operations have also been present in the Alaskan town of Barrow, where the local community is dependent on both subsistence fishing as well as the dividends that come from oil exploration activities in the region (AD).

Polar bears can’t adapt to summer food deprivation through ‘summer hibernation’

Despite some earlier studies hypothesizing that polar bears could deal with food deprivation in the summer through a so-called “walking hibernation” in a lowered state of activity similar to winter hibernation, new research shows that the starving bears’ summer activity and body temperature is typical of fasting, non-hibernating mammals (SD). The research was conducted by the University of Wyoming, the U.S. Geological Survey, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Polar Bears International. It waspublished on July 17 in the journal Science. John P Whiteman, adjunct assistant professor of zoology and physiology and lead author of the study explains the findings in an article inThe Arctic Journal. The implications of the failure of polar bears to conserve energy while fasting could be severe in the face of global warming and the melting of sea ice (AD).

Alaska Supreme Court rules in favor of the Pebble mine project

The Alaska Supreme Court came down against an initiative to halt a controversial mining project in Bristol Bay, affirming a federal judge’s recent ruling (AJOC). The Alaska Supreme Court ruled that the Save Our Salmon initiative aimed at restricting the scope of the proposed Pebble copper and gold mine would interfere with the state’s normal regulatory process (AD).

THE POLITICAL SCENE

United States

White House: President Obama will attend Anchorage Arctic conference in late August (AD).

Talk of Obama visit to Alaska draws attention to Arctic issues (AD).

US presidents who visited Alaska while in office (AD).

Mayor Brower investigated for ethics violation (AS).

Arctic Alaska meeting planned for Kerry, Lavrov and other officials (EOTA).

Senator Murkowski: The Arctic is Not Just an Earmark for Alaska (Cryopolitics).

Europe

Sámi petition gains ground among MPs, ministers (Yle).

The Politics of a Warming Arctic (Energy Collective).

ENERGY

N.W.T. in Arctic Gateway pipeline talks

The Northwest Territories could one day see a pipeline carry oil from Alberta’s oil sands to a shipment point on the Beaufort Sea, according to the territory’s resource development minister. The idea for the pipeline has been discussed for some time as an alternative to shipment routes facing regulatory delays further south, although concrete plans for its development are still preliminary (CBC).

Canada

Arctic oil spills to be studies at Churchill research facility (CBC).

Hiatus in Arctic exploration creates time for regulators to fast-track pipeline approvals (PN).

Norway

Barents Sea contingency risky (NORA).

Russia

Rosneft to create industrial park near Murmansk for developing offshore Arctic oil (TASS).

United States

Researchers: Much still unknown about cleaning up Arctic oil spills (AD).

U.S. follows Europe’s lead to make Arctic energy green (WPR).

Shell may remove ‘oil’ from name as it moves to tap Arctic, Gulf of Mexico (HP).

Opinion: Arctic oil exploration blows out the carbon budget (The Hill).

Another round of Slope methane hydrate research planned (AJOC).

Touring the Alaskan LNG pipeline route (PN).

ConocoPhillips outlines plans for improving Meltwater production route (PN).

KRU expansion sought (PN).

Al Gore criticizes Obama on climate change and 'insane' Arctic drilling (Guardian).

SCIENCE, ENVIRONMENT AND WILDLIFE

Earth sciences, climate and weather

Global Warming and the Arctic Tundra (video) (BBC).

N.W.T. scientists predict 'catastrophic lake drainage' due to thawing permafrost (CBC).

And that's how she rolls: iceberg captured flipping over in Conception Bay (CBC).

Geologic study shows newly discovered dormant faults near Susitna dam site (AD).

Climate scientists find surprising reason for faster Arctic meltdown (AD).

Polar ice set for 6-meter sea-level rise? (AD)

Aniak Fire Base Battles Stubborn Fires (APM).

Sun's activity controls Greenland temperatures (SD).

Can drilling in the Arctic help save the climate? – video (Guardian).

Ecology and wildlife

Advancing Iqaluit polar bear fatally shot by wildlife officer (CBC).

Books - 'Arctic Icons' offers balanced account of Churchill's polar bears (AD).

Researchers can thank cruise boats for such images (polar bears) (NRK, in Norwegian).

Ancient pike pulled from lake mud offers glimpse of Interior's past (AD).

Yellowknife's Frame Lake oxygen levels too low for fish, say scientists (CBC).

Dutch Harbor post office asks wildlife officials to help stop eagle attacks (AD).

Despite international bans, pollutants still turning up in Alaska fur seals (AD).

Bison anthrax outbreak suspected in Wood Buffalo National Park (NORJ).

Bison found dead at Pine Lake tests negative for anthrax (NORJ).

Sealed with love, from a joyriding seal (ST).

Sweden’s wolf committee winds up after lack of interest (EOTA).

Bringing The Noise - How will Shell’s Arctic drilling affect marine mammals in the Chukchi Sea? (onEarth)

Advocate Presents Arctic National Wildlife Refuge Film Monday (Patch).

Counting reindeer: Lancaster couple trek to barren Arctic island to monitor a herd in an era of global warming (Lancaster Online).

Bristol Bay sockeye make unusual late rally (AJOC).

Expeditions & research blogs

Arctic diary: Charting change off the Alaskan coast (Al Jazeera).

Kimmes and fellow canoers continue trip to the Arctic (Hastings Star Gazette).

Shaking Nights and Blue Fingers (Polarstern Blog – Helmholtz).

Floating University – ArcTrain students on board RV Polarstern (Polarstern Blog – Helmholtz).

Box Coring – One Muddy Playground for Scientists (Polarstern Blog – Helmholtz).

Environmental management

Agency fails to report animal rail accidents in Sweden (AD).

Pamela Anderson, Russian Minister to Save Whales Together (Sputnik).

Debris cleanup effort begins along state's coastline (AS).

Construction on Site C dam begins despite First Nations opposition (NORJ).

University & research news

Successful cooperation between the tourism industry and researchers (AIR).

University researchers to play important role in research on arctic oil spills (Morningstar).

APECS Executive Committee Elections 2015-2016 (APECS).

Divers aim to set a new underwater record above the Arctic Circle (RBTH).

'Mummy of a child warrior from 'lost medieval civilisation' unearthed near Arctic' (ST).

MILITARY / SEARCH & RESCUE

United States

U.S. officials consider leasing icebreakers as budget reality sinks in (EOTA).

Russia

Finland confirms 6th Russian airspace violation in just over a year (AD).

Serial production of Russia's Tupolev Tu-160M2 bomber to begin in 2023 — Defense Ministry (TASS).

Canada

Nanisivik, Nunavut, naval facility breaks ground (CBC).

MINING

Alaska

A scathing special report on Mining News North blasts Alaskan regulators for impeding resource development and thereby stunting the state’s economic growth (PN).

First Quantum funds drilling aimed at porphyry targets on Alaska Peninsula (PN).

News Nuggets: Kensington gold production down in Q2 (PN).

News Nuggets: NovaCopper begins $5.5M Arctic program (PN).

Canada

At least 12 small mining firms are taking advantage of a new incentive program offered by the NWT government and have received $400,000 to explore for gold and diamonds in the Slave and Sahtu regions (NORJ).

Confusion over permitting process presents challenges for Nunavut mining projects (SNL).

Northern Neighbors: Rickford details Canada support of mining (PN).

Northern Neighbors: Minto Mine production tops expectations (PN).

Northern Neighbors: BC permits limit re-start of Mt. Polley (PN).

Northern Neighbors: New uranium targets tested at Angilak (PN).

GOLD: Mining temporarily suspended at Seabee operation (CMJ).

Greenland

NunaMinerals' payments extended (KNR, in Danish).

FISHERIES, SHIPPING AND OTHER BUSINESS NEWS

Fisheries

Tr'ondëk Hwëch'in First Nation uses frozen salmon at youth fish camp (CBC).

Bristol Bay sockeye run goes from bust to unbelievable (AD).

FISH FACTOR: Kodiak debris sweep; new Coast Guard regs for old vessels (AJOC).

Kenai gillnet attracts 600 comments from public (AJOC).

Fishermen flock to Kotzebue Sound for commercial opener (AS).

Fear of contaminated shrimp were unfounded (KNR, in Danish).

Kruse apologizes to the Icelandic cod fisheries (KNR, in Danish).

Fisheries and Oceans Canada Announces Increase to Arctic Surf Clam Total Allowable Catch (GOC).

Shipping

First for Non-Russian Arctic Cruise Vessel (MarEx).

Putin signs law establishing Vladivostok as a free port (ST).

Daewoo Shipbuilding’s Fall Has its Origins Near the Arctic (Bloomberg).

Russia Makes Bid for Arctic Shipping Lane Even as Oil Prices Slip (MT).

Envoys explore icebreaker Araon (Korea Times).

Aviation

Last flight for US Airways expected in October (AJOC).

Tourism

Russia Opens Arctic Border Crossing to Boost Tourism (Sputnik).

Leonardo DiCaprio gives Canadian Arctic tourism boost (VIDEO) (Malay Mail).

Tourists are disappointed by ATVs (KNR, in Danish).

Tourists name Novosibirsk Zoo in Europe's top ten (ST).

At Husky Park, Visit the Arctic Without Leaving Moscow (MT).

Other business and economic news

U.S. & Canada

Marijuana Industry Association rolls out (AJOC).

CH2M CEO expects quick turnaround based on core values (AJOC).

Alaska Native corp. to vote on giving shares 'after borns' (AJOC).

'Neglected' Yellowknife KFC to fly the coop, shut down in August (CBC).

Russia

Debt Crisis Looms as Putin's Pledges Bankrupt Russian Regions (MT).

Nordics

Lobbyists want Finnish sauna rebranded abroad (Yle).

Exploring growth potential in creative industries (Faroese) (NORA).

Supermarket chain moves Greenlandic HQ to Nuuk (NORA).

HEALTH, YOUTH, SOCIETY AND CULTURE

World’s largest sauna now open for business in Arctic Norway

The world's largest public sauna recently opened in the Arctic Norway city of Bodø, Norway (The Independent). The interior of the seaside sauna, which can accommodate up to 100 visitors, is built like an amphitheater and offers spectacular views out over the Norwegian Sea (Telegraph).

Health

Study from Arctic Canada finds cannabis users less obese, less at risk for diabetes (EOTA).

Long summer nights elevate sleep deprivation in Finland (AD).

Youth

Harper Government Helps to Provide Aboriginal Students at Nunavut Arctic College with Tailored Post-Secondary Skills and Training (Nunavut Arctic College).

Society

Confederate flag controversy prompts deeper look at racism in Juneau (APM).

Ramadan in the Arctic: How do you break a fast at sundown if the sun doesn't set? (AD).

After a lifetime of trying to get sober, six good months and then a quick decline (AD).

Life in the Arctic village of Shishmaref – in pictures (Guardian).

Culture

Painfully precise: N.W.T. Dene artist promotes porcupine quillwork (CBC).