Fish harvests in the Arctic Ocean are small, yet the largest U.S commercial fisheries lies immediately south of the arctic in the Bering Sea.  Some fish and crabs have been observed moving northward and this trend is predicted to continue. With these statements, Michael Sigler commenced his lecture which was centered on these observations, predictions as a consequence of the warming climate and possible approaches to the arctic fisheries management.
 To give further insight into the Arctic fisheries, he contrasted the Arctic and Subarctic marine ecosystems.  The Arctic Ocean, in which lies the Chukchi Sea, has its energy distributed to the deeper ends of the water column and is therefore characterized by benthic organisms. This, in addition to the long winters of low light penetration accounts for its low productivity. The Subarctic (Bering Sea) on the other hand has its energy distributed throughout water column and is dominated by pelagic organisms. Given this difference in energy distribution, productivity at the Chukchi Sea is greater than 100gC/m2/y while productivity in the Eastern Berring Sea has been measured to be greater than 500gC/m2/y.  Dr. Sigler added that productivity diminishes as ocean currents move form the Bering Sea to the Chukchi Sea.
Dr. Sigler outlined changes that have been observed in the Arctic Fisheries. These include reduction of benthic prey populations, significant northward displacement within the Bering Sea, Snow crab population had contracted northward and Gray whale feeding grounds have been altered. He pointed to recent findings of a Beaufort Sea survey carried out in August 2008, which revealed that Brittle stars and Arctic cods have become dominant while six other species had began to extend their range from the Bering to the Beaufort seas.
Making assertions about future events, Dr. Sigler mentions that the diminishing sea ice will induce warmer system. He postulates three changes regarding the health of the Arctic ecosystem. These include the increase abundance of piscivorous fish which will result in competition that would lead to a decline in murres, fur seals, and kittiwakes. Also, growing population of humpback will increase consumption and competition. Dr. Sigler added that location will be a factor in evaluating changes. Some "hotspots" in Alaska, where preys are concentrated, will be difficult for predators to locate.
With current climate warming trends and possibility of reduced ice cover, likelihood of a significant fishery may develop in the Arctic. This will necessitate devising management strategies.  According to Dr. Sigler, fisheries management in the Arctic can be addressed in two ways, the traditional single species approach and the ecosystem approach. He draws attention to the importance of accessibility to sufficient information, which should include stock assessment and sustainable harvest as criteria for opening a new arctic fishery.  By and large, biomass surveys which include life history, growth, resilience and accounting for uncertainty in biomass, non consumptive values are factors to think about.

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