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The Bering Sea and Kamchatka
Protecting Arctic Environments
Remote, visually stunning, wild and intact, the remarkable waters of the Bering Sea and the vast wilderness of the Kamchatka Peninsula together make up one of the world’s most biologically productive and diverse environments.
The nutrient-rich sea attracts marine mammals, such as humpback and gray whales, which travel great distances to forage and raise their young. Its fisheries are vital to local communities whose livelihoods depend on fishing and to millions worldwide: More than half of the fish caught in the United States each year come from the Bering Sea.
A shallow river with gravel bottom where salmons from the Pacific Ocean come for spawning. Bystrinsky Nature Park, Kamchatka.
© WWF-Canon / Hartmut JUNGIUS
On Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula snow sheep claim the alpine environments, while reindeer roam on the tundra. Its river systems host the greatest diversity and concentration of salmonoid fish on Earth and produce up to one-quarter of all wild Pacific salmon. The salmon are a biological cornerstone of the ecosystems in which they live and a vital component to the vibrant coastal economies. They provide nourishment to many local communities and species such as the Kamchatka brown bear.
But climate change is threatening the future of this remarkable, almost entirely intact ecosystem. WWF is on the ground in the Bering Sea and Kamchatka Ecoregion working with local communities, industry and other conservation organizations to ensure that this special place continues to benefit wildlife and people for generations to come.
WWF vision: Restore and conserve marine, coastal and terrestrial resources through research, education, proactive conservation efforts, and collaboration with local communities, the private sector and government agencies.
The place. From the volcanoes of Kamchatka to the coral gardens of the Aleutian Islands, the ecoregion is known for its diversity of landscapes and ecosystems. It is rich in environmental, economic and cultural values. Its bounty supports great concentrations of wildlife, and vibrant indigenous communities have thrived here for centuries.
The species. The interdependent relationships among land, sea and species support vast populations of migratory and resident wildlife. From the tiniest plankton to the great Arctic icons, the polar bear and walrus, this region is teeming with wildlife. Fish, birds, whales, brown bears, reindeer and fur seals abound.
The people. For thousands of years, indigenous peoples have been closely tied to the wildlife and habitats here. Their rich traditions and subsistence practices continue to be part of the human fabric of the ecoregion. Commercial fishermen also make their livelihoods here, contributing to the economies of the United States and Russia.
Related Global Markets
Climate Change | Forests | Fishing | Aquaculture | Wildlife Trade
