Keith Criddle (USA)
David Fluharty (USA)
Mitsutaku Makino (Japan)
Ian Perry (Canada)
Anthony Charles (Canada) - presents on May 25,
Plenary Session
Mitsutaku Makino (Japan) - presents on May 25, Plenary Session
James McGoodwin (USA) - presents on May 25, Plenary Session
Polar and sub-polar marine systems are expected
to be strongly impacted by anticipated climate change, and by anticipated
economic development relating to fishing, tourism and, hydrocarbon exploration.
Human socioeconomic systems in these regions year-round or seasonally
are finely tuned to their present environments, with few alternative
livelihood opportunities, and are also expected to be severely affected
by these changes. This session will explore the potential for anticipating
socio-economic conditions in coupled polar and sub-polar marine social-ecological
systems. It seeks to identify the key policy issues and what policies
are needed as these regions experience climate-driven environmental
changes and economic development, with the focus on marine-related issues.
Policy needs will include requirements for monitoring and observing
of the full coupled social-ecological systems. A comparative approach
among the different communities and countries of these regions will
enable separation of general from regional and local understanding and
policy issues. Such an approach could include the roles of seasonal
migrants into these regions for marine-related activities. The session
specifically seeks papers that address anticipating marine socio-economic
aspects of climate change and economic development, anticipated policy
needs related to these issues, and the understanding and information
needs (e.g. monitoring) required to forecast responses and to formulate
policies. Comparative studies at a variety of spatial scales, as well
as studies that examine interactions and feedback mechanisms between
humans and the environment, are particularly welcome. Publication of
a collection of these presentations in a relevant primary journal will
be discussed.