Day 1 of the Workshop featured presentations on past and ongoing Bering Sea research programs given by federal agencies and other organizations. The purpose of these reviews was to determine which research organization is doing what marine research in the Bering Sea. We believe the workshop goals of sharing research activities and direction were achieved and will help to provide the basis for defining a common vision for planning and coordinating further research.

Participants heard from most of the major line programs of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the U.S. Department of the Interior, and the State of Alaska. Additionally, presentations were given by representatives of the U.S. Department of State, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and other organizations. Research programs in which the University of Alaska played a key role were also outlined along with many of the research partnerships that have been formed between state/federal agencies and universities.

The Bering Sea ecosystem is intricate and complex. While the diversity of research appeared broad, there is so much more that is unknown about it. The breadth of reviewed research spans all aspects of ocean sciences: air-sea interactions, ocean current dynamics, ice dynamics, primary production, secondary production, benthos, fish and fisheries, marine mammals, seabirds, and pollution, to name only a few.

It was also evident that the number of multi-institutional, multi-disciplinary research efforts are increasing at a fast pace. Although various organizations are performing research designed to meet their statutory requirements or to attain the goals of specific research programs and partnerships, they could achieve greater goals with better coordination.

There was a particular emphasis on monitoring of the Bering Sea ecosystem, its component species, and a growing trend for broader based ecosystem research. The broader based programs would focus on understanding habitat needs of important species, predator/prey interactions between ecosystem components, the role of climate in influencing biological productivity and change, and human impacts (particularly fishing impacts) on various aspects of the ecosystem. These research directions indicate the need for expanded funding of ecosystem-based research, definition of a common research plan, and development of mechanisms for ongoing research coordination.