Scientists from across North America gathered in Anchorage at the end of March to discuss one of the fastest-changing ecosystems in the world -- the Arctic.

At the 28th Lowell Wakefield Fisheries Symposium, much of the buzz focused on the impact of rapid changes in the extent and duration of sea ice on marine mammals, fish stocks, and human activities.

The president of Ocean Networks Canada also shared her perspective on Arctic research and policy. With the increase in extreme weather events and changing climate regimes, Dr Kate Moran believes the general public is starting to see a correlation between what’s happening in the Arctic and the rest of the continent.

In an interview, she noted: “It’s getting hot and people are starting to understand that it’s impacting their livelihoods. Nowhere in the world is the rising number of natural catastrophes more evident than here in North America.”

“What happens in the Arctic doesn’t stay in the Arctic.” -Sue Moore, NOAA Office of Science and Technology

But until the economies of America and Europe are threatened, major policy has yet to be created as a response to those changes—especially policy that deals with the reduction of carbon.

To view the full article, see Scientists discuss the Arctic's new normal.