About Oceans North U.S.

The Pew Environment Group’s U.S. Arctic Program, also known as Oceans North U.S., works to conserve the unique ecosystems and vibrant Native communities that depend on North America’s Arctic waters. In Alaska, these include the Beaufort, Chukchi and Bering seas. The region supports some of the world's last intact marine ecosystems, and its well-being is threatened by climate change, loss of sea ice, and rapid development.

Oceans North U.S. works closely with Alaska Natives, scientists, local governments and conservation groups to achieve key policy goals for conservation of the Arctic ecosystem. Combining science, traditional knowledge, outreach and media, Oceans North U.S. works to develop sound policies for four immediate goals:

To develop a sound scientific basis for managing Arctic fisheries before opening the Chukchi and Beaufort seas to commercial fishing.
To defer offshore oil and gas activity in U.S. Arctic waters until a precautionary, science-based plan is developed that reflects the concerns and needs of the region’s indigenous communities.
To provide permanent protection for Bristol Bay from offshore oil and gas activity.
To examine the potential impacts of increased commercial vessel traffic in the region before opening it to transcontinental vessels.

About The Pew Environment Group

The Pew Environment Group (PEG) is the conservation arm of The Pew Charitable Trusts, a non-governmental organization that works globally to establish pragmatic, science-based policies that protect our oceans, preserve our wildlands and promote clean energy. Projects, many of them conducted in partnership with other organizations, are located in Canada, the United States, the European Union, Australia and New Zealand, and several potential marine sanctuaries in the Pacific Ocean. PEG uses applied science, public education and media to advance sound environmental policy. Over the past two decades, PEG’s activities have grown steadily, and the staff today number more than 200.

About The Pew Charitable Trusts

The Pew Charitable Trusts is a nonpartisan, nonprofit charity that addresses the world’s most difficult problems through highly disciplined, often scientific, analysis. Its programs concentrate on three areas: improving public policy, informing the public and stimulating civic life. The Trusts, established in 1948, is the sole beneficiary of seven charitable funds established by four children of Joseph N. Pew and his wife, Mary Anderson Pew.

How to Address U.S. Arctic Science Needs

The Pew Environment Group and Ocean Conservancy recently released a white paper in which 14 independent Arctic marine scientists reviewed and reinforced the recommendations of a USGS Arctic science gap analysis. The white paper also recommends concrete steps the Obama administration should take to address science gaps and inform conservation and development decisions in America’s Arctic Ocean.

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VIDEO: Don't Put America's Arctic Ocean at Risk

The oil industry recently submitted exploration plans to drill up to 10 wells over the next two summers in the U.S. Arctic Ocean for review by the Department of the Interior. As the video below shows, to allow drilling now would put this extraordinary ecosystem—and vibrant communities that have practiced a traditional way of life for thousands of years—at risk.

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Arctic Oil Spill Report

Oil Spill Prevention and Response in the U.S. Arctic Ocean: Unexamined Risks, Unacceptable Consequences is the most comprehensive analysis yet on challenges to preventing and containing spills along the nation’s northernmost coast. Find details, downloads, and video >