October 15, 2021 — For the second year in a row, Bering Strait residents are finding foreign debris on their shores — and they’re still looking for the source.
The first reported piece of trash, one of numerous plastics with Russian and Korean writing, appeared in mid-August.
Last year, community members found well over 300 pieces of trash. This year, only 17 have been reported so far. Even this seemingly small amount is a serious cause for concern, according to Austin Ahmasuk, Kawerak’s marine advocate.
“Well, this year, again, it’s just the tip of the iceberg. So we don’t know, again, none of us are being funded to do this. So we don’t know how extensive this year’s debris event is,” Ahmasuk said.