Bering Sea Sub-Network (BSSN): International Community-based Observation Alliance for Arctic Observing Network

BSSN creates an infrastructure for indigenous and other Arctic residents' organizations based in the coastal communities of the Bering Sea region (BSR) to monitor and observe their environment. It increases capacity and effectiveness of circum-Arctic monitoring through responding to the need of the long-term collection of data in remote Arctic locations. In particular, the BSR was identified as a priority monitoring area by many scientists, such as the Circumpolar Biodiversity Monitoring Programme of the Arctic Council. BSSN works specifically with community-based or place-based research and will attempt to integrate these efforts with broader scientific activities both in the region and globally.


Lead		Victoria Gofman
Organization		Aleut International Association (AIA)
Country		United States
Geographic Coverage		Bering Sea and Bering Strait
Communities		Alaska: Gambell, Togiak, and Sand Point Russia: Kanchalan, Tymlat, and Nikolskoye
Related Organizations	Aleut International Association (AIA, US/Russia) Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna working group of the Arctic Council (CAFF) Alaska Native Science Commission United Nations Environment Programme - Global Resource Information Database (UNEP-GRID: Arendal) University of Alaska, Anchorage Westat, Inc.
Web site		Aleut International Association

Rescuing a seal in the Bering Sea. Learn more on The Bering Sea: The Seattle Times site. Photo Credit: Steve Ringman

Culture & Community

Visit the The Bering Sea and Kamchatka, a World Wildlife Fund (WWF) site, for a closer look at "one of the world's most biologically productive and diverse environments".

Related Resources

Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna (CAFF)
CAFF, the Biodiversity Working Group of the Arctic Council, uses traditional ecological knowledge of local and indigenous people to aid in their assessment of Arctic biodiversity, and to further promote sustainability of Arctic resources.