LEO Network

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The LEO Network is a worldwide network of observers and experts that share their observations of environmental change.
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Observations

When permafrost thaw turns Arctic Alaska river red, toxicity levels rise, scientists find
A study of the “rusting” Salmon River and its tributaries in Kobuk Valley National Park suggests that permafrost thaw is causing wider ecological problems.
Kobuk, Alaska, United States
Anchorage Daily News

Over 660 tons of salmon were allowed to be caught by the indigenous people of Chukotka
The total recommended salmon catch for all types of fishing this year amounted to 1300.2 tons, which is 29% more than last year. Of these, 346 tons of pink salmon, 498.8 tons of chum salmon and 455.4 tons of sockeye salmon.
Anadyr, Chukotskiy Avtonomnyy Okrug, Russia

Toxic algal blooms in Southeast will likely become less predictable with warming seas
Sitka had an early bloom that led to high shellfish toxins in April, and there is currently a paralytic shellfish toxin advisory across Southeast for recreational and subsistence harvest.
Sitka, Alaska, United States
KTOO

Additional days of salmon fishing are proposed to be allocated this season for the indigenous people of Chukotka
The Far Eastern Scientific and Fishery Council (FESPC) in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, supported a possible increase in the number of fishing days for representatives of indigenous peoples in the river basin of the Anadyr estuary from the first week of July until the end of the fishery.
Anadyr, Chukotskiy Avtonomnyy Okrug, Russia

Emperor and Black Brant geese harvests restricted due to low population
The Alaska Migratory Bird Co-Management Council and the Pacific Flyway Council have closed harvesting and egging of Emperor geese and restricted egging of Black Brant geese for the 2025 hunting season due to declining populations.
Yukon Delta, Alaska
KYUK

Disappearing Nunatsiavut sea ice continues as climate change dramatically alters Labrador landscape
Sea ice in Nunatsiavut is forming later and melting sooner, disrupting Inuit travel, hunting and culture; the SmartICE program combines technology and traditional knowledge to help communities adapt.
Nain, Nunatsiavut, Canada
CBC News

Annual meeting highlights positive trends for Western Arctic Caribou Herd though there is no population count this year
Despite the inability to conduct a population count this year due to weather conditions, recent data indicates slightly improved survival rates for cows and calves in the Western Arctic Caribou Herd, offering a glimmer of hope amid ongoing concerns about the herd's decline.
Northwest Arctic, Alaska
Anchorage Daily News

Climate change makes farming easier in Alaska. Indigenous growers hope to lead the way
First frosts are already arriving later in some parts of the state, allowing growers to keep their crops in the field longer. Research done at the University of Alaska Fairbanks predicts the growing season could be weeks or even months longer by 2100. A new training program in the Interior aims to help Alaska Native communities grow more of their own food.
Nenana, Alaska, United States
KTOO

Marquee Alaska sockeye run was bigger than expected, but the individual fish were small
Alaska's largest sockeye salmon run exceeded expectations in numbers but featured the smallest fish on record, posing challenges for commercial harvest.
Bristol Bay, Alaska, United States
Alaska Public Media

Moose hunting closed for 22C and 22D
Moose hunting in Alaska's Game Units 22C and 22D was closed after hunters quickly reached the quota, with a record 40 moose harvested in 22C in just two days.
Nome, Alaska, United States
The Nome Nugget

Setting nets for 70 years in Anchorage’s shadow, a family witnessed major shifts in Cook Inlet salmon
A family with a 70-year history of setting nets in Cook Inlet has observed significant changes in salmon size and population, with a notable decrease in average earnings for fishermen.
Anchorage, Alaska, United States
Anchorage Daily News

Climate change affecting life in Alaska
Climate change is affecting nearly every aspect of life, said Gwich’in Council International board member Evon Taa’ąįį Peter, who is Neetsaii Gwich’in and Koyukon Athabascan. For one thing, he told ICT, more than 60% of the forest lands of the Alaskan Gwich’in nation have burned in wildfires in the past 10 years. As of July 10, 582,000 acres had burned this year in 328 wildfires in Alaska. “I couldn’t open the windows of my house for seven days straight, I think, because it would just let smoke billow into my home, which was already too unhealthy for us to be outside. So most of us just had to remain indoors…so there’s definitely very real dramatic and in-our-face impacts from climate change across the state, even in (an urban area like) Fairbanks,” Peter said.
Fairbanks, Alaska, United States
Alaska Beacon

Victory no to larger facilities: "Unacceptable risk of infection for wild cod"
Mattilsynet has rejected Ode's request to double the size of their cod farming facility due to unacceptable infection risks to wild cod populations.
Norway
NRK

New federal program aims to speed restoration of damaged Alaska streams and rivers
A new federal program expedites the repair of Alaska's mining-damaged waterways, incorporating a streamlined environmental assessment process to restore up to 5 miles of habitat annually over 25 years.
Alaska, United States
Alaska Public Media

National Park Service bans sport hunters from baiting bears
The National Park Service has banned sport hunters from baiting bears in Alaska's National Park Service-managed Preserves, citing safety and wildlife conservation concerns.
Alaska, United States
Alaska Public Media

No clamming in Ninilchik or Clam Gulch this year
Adult abundance “well below” fishery thresholds on both beaches. This outcome was not unanticipated, as the department said when opening the fishery in Ninilchik last year that adult abundance met necessary thresholds for allowing harvest — at least meeting or exceeding 50% of the historical average — but juvenile abundance was low, meaning there would likely not be enough adult clams this year or next.
Homer, Alaska, United States
Homer News

Relief applications open for Alaska's 2019 and 2020 crab fisheries disasters
Applications for relief funds from Alaska's 2019 and 2020 crab fisheries disasters are now open, with $13 million allocated for the Bering Sea Tanner crab fishery.
Bering Sea, Alaska, United States

Much of Juneau's king salmon fishery will close this summer, because of a 2020 landslide
Juneau's king salmon fishery will be closed this summer due to low hatchery returns caused by a 2020 landslide that disrupted the freshwater supply and forced premature salmon release.
Juneau, Alaska, United States

An influx of chum salmon in the Canadian Arctic could be the same fish missing from Western Alaska
An increase in chum salmon in the Canadian Arctic, potentially linked to climate change, may be the same fish missing from Western Alaska, raising ecological concerns.
Aklavik, Northwest Territories, Canada

Japan to start hunting fin whales after five years of commercial whaling
Japan plans to expand its commercial whaling to include fin whales, five years after resuming whaling and leaving the IWC.
Japan
The Japan Times

Whale fight: Right-wing leader wants to shoot more and market whales abroad
A right-wing leader advocates for increased whale hunting and international marketing of whale meat, despite global regulations and declining participation in the industry.
Norway
NRK

Caribou herds in B.C. and Alberta have grown nearly 50%, mostly due to wolf culls, study finds
A study attributes the nearly 50% growth of caribou herds in B.C. and Alberta to controversial wolf culls, which may need to continue for decades.
British Columbia, Canada
CBC

Federal regulators cut Western Arctic caribou harvest limit to 15 animals a year
Federal regulators have significantly reduced the Western Arctic caribou harvest limit for local subsistence hunters from five animals per day to 15 per year, with only one cow allowed, due to the herd's continued decline and low cow survival rates. Non-local hunting is banned until the herd recovers.
Northwest Arctic, Alaska, United States

Western Alaska tribes, outraged by bycatch, turn up the heat on fishery managers and trawlers
The years-long debate is taking on increasing urgency as subsistence harvesting bans continue and the policy responses under consideration threaten to impose steep costs on the industry.
Nulato, Alaska, United States

Canada, Alaska suspend fishing of Yukon River chinook salmon for 7 years
Canada and Alaska have agreed to a seven-year fishing moratorium on Yukon River chinook salmon to aid the species' recovery, following years of declining numbers.
Yukon River, Alaska
CBC

Commercial fisheries may soon be at the Bering Strait’s doorstep
Sea ice loss, warming waters and the northward expansion of fish species like pollock are all contributing to a pattern in the Bering Strait region known as “borealization.” That means the Arctic ecosystem is becoming more like the boreal region to the south.
Nome, Alaska, United States
The Nome Nugget

Peltola has fish on her mind during Cama-i trip to Bethel
Rep. Mary Peltola discusses the challenges facing Alaska's fisheries, including declining salmon populations and the impact on subsistence and commercial fishing, during her visit to Bethel for the Cama-i Dance Festival.
Bethel, Alaska, United States

Amid salmon crash, Alaska’s Yukon River residents say a new pact with Canada leaves them behind
Alaska's Yukon River residents feel neglected by a new Canada-U.S. agreement aimed at rebuilding salmon stocks, as the pact requires a seven-year fishing halt that exacerbates their economic and cultural struggles.
Yukon River, Alaska, United States

Alaska will receive $2.6M towards small scale food production
Alaska receives $2.6M from the USDA to enhance local food production, aiming to bolster food security in a state where 95% of food is imported.
Alaska, United States

State regulators limit hunting of Western Arctic caribou to 15 animals a year
Subsistence hunters living in Northwest Alaska and parts of the North Slope are now only allowed to hunt up to 15 animals a year, only one of which can be a cow. This is a considerable change from five caribou a day, and it goes into effect on state-managed lands on July 1.
Kotzebue, Alaska, United States

Peter Pan's King Cove plant will stay closed this winter as fishing industry turmoil spreads
Peter Pan's King Cove plant closure during the winter will impact local revenue and fishermen, amid industry-wide financial struggles and delayed payments.
King Cove, Alaska, United States

Caribou management and health
Experts discuss strategies for ensuring the health and sustainability of Alaska's caribou amidst environmental and developmental challenges.

Alaska beekeepers kill their colonies every fall, but an Anchorage man has another way
An Anchorage beekeeper has learned how to help his honeybee colonies survive to see spring, and he’s teaching others to do the same.
Anchorage, Alaska, United States

Alaska's open seasons on predators are approved behind closed doors
Alaska's predator control measures and wildlife management strategies are under scrutiny as tensions rise over state and federal jurisdiction, with calls for more inclusive decision-making and realistic goals amidst rapid climate change.
Togiak, Alaska, United States

Paralytic shellfish poisoning toxin is high in some subsistence harvests, according to Knik Tribe’s data
Knik Tribe data reveals high levels of paralytic shellfish poisoning toxin in some Alaskan subsistence shellfish harvests, with variability in toxin levels across different locations.
Sand Point, Alaska, United States

Hatcheries hurt nearly all wild salmon populations, study finds
A comprehensive analysis of over 200 studies reveals that fish hatchery programs have predominantly negative impacts on wild salmon populations, reducing genetic diversity and overall health.
Pacific Ocean
ArcticToday

Western Arctic Caribou Herd population decline continues, with hunting expected to be affected
The Western Arctic Caribou Herd continues to decline, now at about a third of its 2003 population, with hunting restrictions likely as part of conservation efforts.
Northwest Arctic, Alaska, United States

'Charity is not a solution to food insecurity': How to feed the future
Experts argue that transforming food systems through structural changes, Indigenous knowledge, and data sharing is essential for long-term food security and sustainable development.
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
CBC

Western Alaska salmon crisis affects physical and mental health, residents say
Residents in Western Alaska are experiencing a salmon crisis that is not only affecting their physical health due to the lack of exercise from salmon harvesting, but also their mental health and cultural well-being, as salmon harvesting is seen as a vital part of their way of life and recovery from substance abuse.
Western Alaska, United States

Kenai borough Assembly asks governor to declare east side set-net economic disaster
The Kenai borough Assembly has passed a resolution asking the governor to declare an economic disaster for set-netters on the east side of Cook Inlet in Alaska, due to the closure of the fishery this year resulting in significant economic losses.
Kenai, Alaska, United States

Western Arctic Caribou Herd keeps shrinking, 2023 census shows
The Western Arctic Caribou Herd in Alaska has continued to decline, with a 7% decrease in population from the previous year, prompting concerns about the need for harvest reduction to preserve the herd.
Kobuk, Alaska, United States

A squeaky wheel with data: how Nipissing First Nation is healing environmental damage
Nipissing First Nation in Ontario, Canada is using innovative methods, such as aerating water and replacing invasive species with wild rice, to heal environmental damage and improve the ecosystem.
Ontario, Canada
The Narwhal

Expert Proposes Ban on Hunting Puffins
If puffin hunting is banned, that population is expected to decrease by over 10% over the next decade. If hunting continues to be permitted, however, the population is expected to decrease by 30% or even as much as 50% within that same period.
South Iceland
Iceland Review

Bering Sea fishing group grapples with how to invest pollock profits in Western Alaska
Amid declining salmon runs, Coastal Villages Region Fund has shifted away from subsidizing village-based seafood processing. Coastal Villages used to pursue that mission in large part by operating smaller commercial fisheries for salmon and halibut. Each year, the fishing season was an opportunity to earn wages at the group’s processing facilities or for local fishermen to earn cash selling their catch — an economic lifeline for many families in one of the state’s poorest regions.
Quinhagak, Alaska, United States

Southeast Alaska harvest data shows moose moving to new areas
Moose in Southeast Alaska are being harvested in new areas, indicating a potential expansion of their population and distribution.
Petersburg, Alaska, United States
KTOO

Efforts underway to save salmon trapped in B.C. lake due to drought
More than 80 per cent of B.C.'s water basins are experiencing level 4 or 5 drought conditions, with salmon in many parts of the province struggling to make it to their spawning grounds.
Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada

Pretty but pesky: Alaskans wage war on invasive plants
A "weed smackdown" at an Anchorage park is part of a long-running campaign to stop the spread of plants that are harming the natural ecosystem.

New Sitka research could help berry pickers adjust to climate change
In Southeast Alaska, and across the state, climate change is bringing more rainfall, less winter snowfall and hotter temperatures. According to the project’s lead researcher Alex McCarrel, those changes disrupt berry development because a berry plant’s life cycle is precisely tuned to its environment.
Sitka, Alaska, United States

State opens Kuskokwim River commercial fishing to 1 person
Commercial fishing openers are only available to individuals registered as catcher/sellers. On the Kuskokwim, the only one registered is Fran Reich.
Bethel, Alaska, United States

Environmental activists work to reconnect Yukon villages with salmon amid subsistence restrictions
Amid the collapse of chum and chinook salmon on the river, the Smokehouse Collective is trying to build sustainable, resilient food systems for Native communities.
Yukon River, Alaska

U.S. Forest Service awards grants to boost Tongass logging
The two Alaska grants are aimed at retooling mills to harvest young growth timber in the Tongass National Forest rather than old growth.
Petersburg, Alaska, United States

Bristol Bay sportfishing regulations change, in response to concerns over king salmon decline
As king salmon decline in the Bristol Bay region, changes to king salmon harvest include reduced bag limits, area closures, as well as the introduction of youth-only fisheries in the Naknek River.
Bristol Bay, Alaska
KDLG

In 'major victory' for Southeast Alaska trollers, federal appeals panel reverses fishery closure
A federal appeals panel issued a last-second ruling Wednesday that will allow this summer’s Southeast Alaska troll chinook salmon fishery to open as scheduled July 1.
Ketchikan, Alaska, United States

Indigenous communities in B.C., Alaska, declare state of emergency over Pacific salmon
A group of Indigenous communities from Alaska and B.C. has declared a state of emergency related to Pacific salmon populations, and says First Nations need to be more involved in managing traditional resources.
British Columbia, Canada

A large fish that fills freezers in Northwest Alaska could be in danger
Following a thaw slump, the water becomes cloudy and full of sediment, potentially suffocating the eggs of spawning sheefish. Scientists are concerned that permafrost thaw could lead to declines in the sheefish population, a staple food for many Alaskans.
Kotzebue, Alaska, United States

Bering Sea 2019 heatwave produced extreme change
The Bering Sea region is front and center for federal fisheries researchers after the 2019 heatwave produced extreme change in the marine ecosystem.
Bering Sea Region
The Nome Nugget

Dozens express frustration about idea to reduce caribou harvest
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Office of Subsistence Management held the second public hearing on May 2 about the proposal to reduce the caribou harvest limit for resident hunters across the range of the Western Arctic Caribou Herd from five caribou per day to four caribou per year, only one of which may be a cow.
Northwest Arctic and North Slope, Alaska
Arctic Sounder

10 billion snow crabs disappeared from the Bering Sea. Scientists and fishermen are working to learn why.
Such a large, sudden die-off and a lack of sea ice were a red flag for scientists with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Nome, Alaska, United States

A young Yup’ik climate advocate is committed to centering Indigenous knowledge in science
Charitie Ropati, 21, wants to reimagine scientific research to include her traditional values, like community and collective wellbeing.
Kongiganak, Alaska, United States

Research spotlights the impact of climate change on Pacific salmon migration
Climate change is knocking some Pacific salmon out of alignment with the growth of the ocean plankton they eat to survive, new research says.
Pacific Ocean
British Columbia

Fears trouble if Norway try to advertise whale meat abroad
The whaling industry and whale experts believe Norway must promote whale meat. The Minister of Fisheries fears that this could ruin the sale of other Norwegian seafood.
Norway
NRK

Northwest Arctic and North Slope borough officials support Ambler road despite some local opposition
Ambler Elder Virginia Commack said that the borough's decision does not reflect the opinion of many Northwest Arctic residents. This month, almost 80 Northwest Arctic residents, current and former, signed the petition against the development of the Ambler road project. When the Alaska Department of Natural Resources held two public hearings last year, out of about 37 people who called, only two spoke in support of the project.
Ambler, Alaska, United States

Fish hatcheries, long seen as a last resort, get a new look amid Yukon River salmon crisis
First Nations groups in the Yukon Territory and Alaska GOP Gov. Mike Dunleavy's administration are advancing discussions about whether hatcheries could help stem a steep crash in salmon populations on the Yukon River.

Sea ice loss affects biodiversity, economy and travel safety, hunters and scientists say during a conference
"Siku" means sea ice in the Siberian Yup'ik language. But about a hundred other Yup'ik words describe different types of sea ice, including icebergs, floating pressure ice ridges, solid ice safe for travel — and "pequ," "an unsuitable area in ice field where the current causes ice to heave up or break up," Vera Metcalf said.
Alaska

Winter Travel, Access and Changing Snow and Ice Conditions
The Copper River Basin in Alaska has experienced less reliable snow and ice conditions in recent years, impacting winter activities such as trapping, hunting, and gathering firewood. This study, based on nine oral interviews with local residents, reveals that crossing rivers has become more treacherous and difficult, with significant changes in ice conditions observed since the 1970s. Decreased snowpacks and increased shrub growth have also posed obstacles for accessing winter trails, requiring individuals to cut through forests. These changes, combined with socio-economic and technological factors, have affected the way people engage in winter activities in the Copper River Basin. Overall, this research contributes to the understanding of climate change's impact on winter activities in Alaska and the Circumpolar North.
Copper River Basin
Winter Travel, Access, and Changing Snow and Ice Conditions in Alaska’s Copper River Basin

Native knowledge of great lakes ecology: Climate changes to Odawa lands
Climate change has been observed for hundreds of years by the plant specialists of three Odawa Tribes in the Upper Great Lakes along Lake Michigan. Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is the focus of two National Park Service (NPS) studies of Odawa Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) of plants, ecosystems, and climate change. Data collected during these studies contributed to developing Plant Gathering Agreements between tribes and parks. This analysis derived from 95 ethnographic interviews conducted by University of Arizona (UofA) anthropologists in partnership with tribal appointed representatives. Odawa people recognized in the park 288 plants and five habitats of traditional and contemporary concern. Tribal representatives explained that 115 of these traditional plants and all five habitats are known from multigenerational eyewitness accounts to have been impacted by climate change. The TEK study thus represents what Native people know about the environment. These research findings are neither intended to test their TEK nor the findings of Western science.
Glen Arbor, Michigan, United States
Frontiers

Artists fear proposed changes to Southeast Alaska sea otter hunting rules could threaten traditional craft
Only certain Alaska Native people can hunt sea otters. But as otter populations have grown, so have calls to loosen federal laws protecting them.

Murkowski, Peltola tell ComFish more needs to be done about ‘crisis’ levels of species decline
The lawmakers discussed the challenges faced by Alaska’s fishermen in a remote address to Kodiak’s annual commercial fishing trade show.
Kodiak, Alaska

Bowhead whales are changing migration patterns in the Arctic
With ice declining, bowhead whales of the Pacific Arctic choose to stay longer in the waters up north. A change in migration patterns could affect the bowheads' health and safety, as well as the hunters' access to the subsistence resource.
Bering Straits

State shutters most Cook Inlet king salmon fishing this summer in unprecedented array of emergency closures
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game announced preseason fishing limits and closures Thursday as chinook numbers continue to decline. The closure also triggers commercial setnet shutdowns.
Cook Inlet, Alaska

Subsistence in these days of climate change
There’s an old saying that captures the essence of subsistence harvesting: “When the tide is out, the table is set.” Clams, mussels and other food are available for the person. Climate change has impacted subsistence in the ocean and on the land. Community members share observations on changes.
Kodiak, Alaska, United States
Kodiak Daily Mirror

Crab crisis in Bering Sea a sign of ‘borealization’ and big changes in the future, scientists warn
In coming decades, the ocean conditions that triggered the snow crab crash and harvest closure are expected to be common.
Bering Sea

How will the Bering Strait respond to harmful algal blooms?
Harmful algal blooms will become a more common feature of a warming Arctic. Last summer, a massive bloom was detected off the coast of Western Alaska, almost by chance, when scientists sailing through the Bering Strait and Chukchi Sea found worryingly high levels of Alexandrium catenella.
Bering Strait

Beaver colonization around Nome is a ‘harbinger’ of Arctic changes
Research shows Beavers are relatively new to the Seward Peninsula and push farther north as climate change occurs.

Wildlife talk about Yukon Flats recap
A wildlife biologist at Yukon Flats National Wildlife Refuge presented his findings after studying the kill-rate of moose by wolves in the Yukon Flats.
Yukon Flats, Alaska, United States
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner

Student project tracking microplastics found in Bering Strait-area spotted seals
A UAF graduate student has found microplastics in the stomachs of spotted seals harvested in the Bering Strait region.
Bering Strait

NOAA denies emergency request to close red king crab savings areas
Federal officials denied an emergency request to close crucial habitat for Bristol Bay red king crab to all commercial fishing.
Bristol Bay, Alaska, United States

After 30 years in decline, Yukon's Finlayson caribou herd may be on the upswing, gov't says
For the first time in decades, Yukon's Finlayson caribou herd appears to be growing in number. That's according to recent population survey data from the territorial government.
Pelly Mountains, British Columbia

Climate change seen as suspected factor in Western Arctic Caribou Herd decline
Alaska’s Western Arctic Caribou Herd population is lower than at any time in over four decades. Climate change is the leading cause of the decline in the herd.

Researchers discuss more salmon appearing in Arctic
The Arctic Sounder - Serving the Northwest Arctic and the North Slope
Kaktovik, Alaska, United States

Ancient moose antlers hint of early arrival on Alaska's North Slope
The North Slope offers a marginal place for a moose because far fewer willow shrubs grow there than in the boreal forest. Moose are recent invaders of the North Slope due to climate warming and expanding willow growth.
North Slope, Alaska
Arctic Sounder

State downsizes bison hunt after a third of Delta herd starves to death
Alaska’s longest and most popular hunting season ended early this year. The Delta Junction bison hunt usually extends from October to March, but the state limited this year’s season to just two weeks, and only 50 animals were taken, because last winter’s heavy snow and ice buildup wiped out nearly a third of the Delta bison herd.
Delta Junction, Alaska, United States
KUAC

Dungeness crab summer harvest drops $10M from previous season
Some Southeast fishermen skipping fall season entirely, other’s say season has been “hit or miss”
Homer, Alaska, United States
Homer News

St. Paul government declares emergency in attempt to get ahead of looming crab crash
The recent closure of the Bering Sea snow crab and Bristol Bay red king crab fisheries has some Western Alaska towns taking a hard look at their futures, including St. Paul.
Saint Paul, Alaska, United States

Bering Sea king and snow crab seasons canceled amid population declines
For the first time ever, the Bering Sea snow crab fishery will not open for the upcoming season. The Bristol Bay red king crab fishery will also be closed for a second year in a row.
Bering Sea

Alaska’s snow crabs have disappeared. Where they went is a mystery.
King crab legs for $199 a pound? There’s a reason for that.
Saint Paul, Alaska, United States
Washington Post

Management council declines action on Bering Sea bycatch to address Yukon-Kuskokwim salmon subsistence worries
The vast majority of callers at the North Pacific Fishery Management Council meeting last week called for a reduction in bycatch limits, which they said would help reverse a dramatic trend of salmon declines on the Yukon and Kuskokwim Rivers.
Bethel, Alaska, United States

Alaska worries about salmon runs as climate change warms Arctic waters
With marine heat waves helping to wipe out some of Alaska’s storied salmon runs in recent years, officials have resorted to sending emergency food shipments to affected communities while scientists warn that the industry’s days of traditional harvests may be numbered. Salmon all but disappeared from the 2,000-mile (3,200-kilometer) Yukon River run last year.
ArcticToday

In Iraq's famed marshlands, climate change is upending a way of life
Drought and extreme heat that scientists link to climate change are altering the UNESCO-protected marshlands. Iraq's average annual temperatures are increasing at nearly double the rate of Earth's.
الجبيش, Dhi Qar, Iraq
NPR.org

400 million rubles will be allocated for waste elimination in Usolie-Sibirskoye.
The Interdepartmental Working Group approved a list of priority measures to eliminate environmental damage in the town of Usolie-Sibirskoye, Irkutsk Region. This was reported by the press service of Deputy Prime Minister Victoria Abramchenko.
Усолье-Сибирское, Irkutsk, Russia
Russian newspaper

For first time in 8 years, 100% of Colorado is under drought or abnormally dry conditions
A combination in Colorado of paltry spring snow, warmer temperatures that triggered earlier melting of winter mountain snowpack, feeble rain through summer, and parched soil from previous dry years led to this formal label.
Colorado, United States
The Denver Post

Lack of bees, pollination limiting crop yields across U.S., B.C.
A lack of wild bees and managed honeybees is limiting pollination and yields for certain crops on farms in British Columbia and across the United States, a collective of researchers has found.
North America

Why Are Swarms Of Locusts Wreaking Havoc In East Africa?
Clouds of the insects can stretch for miles, devouring vegetation and destroying crops. Locust experts say time is running out to get the swarms under control because they multiply so quickly.
Otuke, Uganda
NPR.org

Salmon frenzy in western Arctic reaches historic high
The Arctic Salmon Project collected 2,400 samples from the western Arctic this year — more than the past 20 years combined.
Norman Wells, Northwest Territories, Canada

No one is sure why the Mulchatna caribou are disappearing in Southwest Alaska
The Mulchatna herd was not at the peak numbers it once had decades ago. Over-hunting, migration changes and wolf predation could be leading causes of decline in herd.
Bristol Bay Region

Australia's lost shellfish reefs are roaring back to life
In just a few years, 8 million native angasi oyster hatchlings have been placed in the waters off Victoria, South Australia, Queensland and Western Australia, on the recycled mollusc shells collected from restaurants. They've turned empty, sandy seabeds into thriving ecosystems.
Port Philip Bay, Victoria, Australia
ABC News

Guatemala migrants: Climate change driving exodus
Average daytime temperatures in Guatemala have risen over the past decade, while crop-damaging frosts are more common.
Guatemala
Al Jazeera

Uruguay´s soybean crop forecasted to drop 43% because of devastating drought
Due to the recent devastating drought, soybean production in Uruguay is forecast to drop to 1.7 million tons in 2017-18, according to an April 30 Global Agricultural Information Network (GAIN) report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Uruguay
MercoPress

One year of temperature above normal in Norway
The average temperature for the entire country was 1.2 degrees above normal in March. It is thus the twelfth month in a row that the temperature in Norway has been above normal.
Meteorologisk institutt

Grass crops in Eastern Norway halved in 2018
Last year's drought summer resulted in halved grass crops in Eastern Norway compared to the previous year, according to recent figures from Statistics Norway. - The consequences of the drought continue to affect the daily lives of many farmers, says Lars Petter Bartnes, leader of the Norwegian Farmers' Union.
Akershus, Norway
Norges Bondelag

Warmer seas in the north are bad news for the common Eider
Troms, Norway
The Fram Centre

Thawing of Earth 3rd pole; could affect 1.9 billion people, study says
At least a third of the ice in the Himalayas and the Hindu Kush will thaw this century as temperatures rise, disrupting river flows vital for growing crops from China to India, scientists say.
Hindu Kush Himalaya

Drought turns part of Iran into a new dust bowl
In this corner of the Middle East, a changing climate and debilitating dust storms have brought life to a standstill.
Southeastern Iran
National Geographic

Dene national chief calls for emergency meeting, fears fatal disease affect caribou
Norman Yakeleya is calling for an emergency meeting with the federal and territorial governments to discuss the threat of chronic wasting disease (CWD) with the potential to decimate northern caribou herds.
Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada

Mother had 'no other choice' but to sell her 6-year-old daughter
An unprecedented drought in Afghanistan has led to families selling their children just to be able to feed their households.
هرات, Hirat, Afghanistan
CNN
Nick Paton Walsh and Masoud Popalzai, CNN

Gulf of St. Lawrence may soon be unable to support marine life
The Gulf of St. Lawrence has warmed and lost oxygen more rapidly than almost anywhere else in the Earth's oceanic waters due in part to climate change, raising the possibility that it could soon be unable to fully support marine life, according to a new study.
Gulf of St. Lawrence
CTVNews

Ukraine wheat harvest, exports to fall on drought: analyst
UkrAgroConsult on Tuesday cut its forecast for Ukraine's 2018/19 crop year wheat harvest and exports due to a severe drought across the country during spring and the first half of summer.
Київ, Київська, Ukraine
U.S.

Wild Berry Harvests Less Reliable According to Alaskan Local Observers
A new study from USGS, ANTHC, and the Local Environmental Observer (LEO) Network, provides a view statewide trends in wild berry harvests. The authors conclude that monitoring and experimental studies are needed to understand how climate change may affect the species of wild berries that are important to Alaskans. They also recommended that methods by which rural communities can increase their resilience to declining or more variable berry harvests be explored.

Stressed Crops in Ukraine and Russia
Under the one-two punch of a dry fall and a frigid winter, winter crops in Ukraine were in poor condition in April and May 2006. This vegetation anomaly (difference from normal) image was created from data collected by MODIS. Widespread brown indicates that plants throughout the region had grown less compared to the average growth for 2000-2005. The Foreign Agricultural Service, a division of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, estimated that only 10 metric tons of winter wheat, the primary crop growing here, would be harvested in July and August. That figure was down about 46 percent from the 18.7 metric tons harvested in 2005.
Київ, Київська, Ukraine
NASA Earth Observatory

Climate change could enable Alaska to grow more of its own food
Gardeners in Alaska know that it’s hard to grow big, juicy tomatoes here. But as the climate rapidly warms in the far North, that could change. Anchorage reached 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32 degrees Celsius) for the first time on record in 2019.
Fairbanks, Alaska, United States
ArcticToday

Bering Sea crabbers fear another bleak season as populations dwindle in Alaska’s warming waters
Researchers say warmer waters themselves aren’t killing crabs, but they may be allowing predators to move in and disease to spread more easily.
Kodiak, Alaska, United States

As beavers gain foothold in Arctic Alaska, some see benefits in how they reshape the landscape
Beavers, on the other hand, leave a mark on the landscape that you can sometimes see from space.Swarming ponds, building dams and expanding waterways, beavers are moving farther and farther into the Arctic, and are changing what the region looks like.
Ambler, Alaska, United States

Bering Sea crab surveys show populations still low a year after marquee Alaska harvests closed
A year after the closure of the Bering Sea crab harvests in Alaska, surveys show that crab populations are still low, raising doubts about future harvest prospects and suggesting that continued closures may be necessary.
Southeast Bering Sea, Alaska

Observed Evidence of Changing Forests:Testimonial for the Status of Tribes and Climate Change Report
The Institute of Tribal Environmental Professionals (ITEP) Tribes and Climate Change Program is publishing a report called the Status of Tribes and Climate C...
Spokane, Washington, United States
YouTube

Starving seabirds on Alaska coast show climate change peril
The seabirds are struggling because of climate-linked ecosystem shifts — which can affect the supply and the timing of available food — as well as a harmful algal bloom and a viral outbreak in the region, she said. And their peril jeopardizes the human communities, as well: "Birds are essential to our region — they are nutritionally and economically essential," said Sheffield.

‘The economy of the Lower Yukon is gone’
Second of three parts: As salmon stocks have crashed on the Yukon River, so has a key source of income in fish-dependent communities.
Emmonak, Alaska, United States

Residents speak against reducing caribou harvest limits
Residents and Fish and Game present ideas and opinions around Northwest Caribou population and hunting regulations and restrictions. .
Ambler, Alaska, United States

As effort to restore Eklutna River inches toward decision, disagreements remain over how far plan should go
Disagreements persist over the extent of the restoration plan for the Eklutna River in Alaska, with utilities arguing that a replacement dam would be costly and increase electric rates, while proponents of the plan believe it would benefit the public interest by boosting local fishing and tourism and improving the ecosystem.
Eklutna, Alaska, United States

New wave of Kenai Peninsula fishery closures takes effect
State officials said that king salmon runs are not showing signs of improvement and that conservative measures are needed to ensure future fishing opportunities.
Kenai, Alaska, United States
Peninsula Clarion

Fagersta resident on swine fever outbreak: ”Hold on and hope for the best”
The small Swedish town of Fagersta, Västmanland County, has been at the epicentre of the recent outbreak of African swine fever.All activities in an area of forest around 1000 square kilometers in the counties of Västmanland and Dalarna have been off limits since Friday following the discovery of dead wild boar.
Fagersta, Västmanland, Sweden

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