138 - St. Paul island

The Arctic canary singing a warning

Author

The Climate Mentor
May 2nd, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 3 minutes

The island that’s vanishing before our eyes ♻️

Imagine waking up to find your island dissolving into the sea.
Welcome to St. Paul Island, Alaska — a tiny dot in the Bering Sea now on the frontlines of climate collapse.
But St. Paul’s story isn’t just about a distant Arctic village. It’s a global alarm bell: how climate change eats away economies, communities, and ecosystems — one wave at a time.

Map showing the position of St. Paul Island in the Bering Sea, southwest of mainland Alaska, with an arrow highlighting its location.

Location of St. Paul Island in the Bering Sea, Alaska

A collapsing ecosystem takeaways from COP29 🌱

In April 2025, The Washington Post reported that St. Paul Island had lost its protective sea ice, once a winter constant (source).

  • Snow crab populations collapsed by up to 90%, devastating fisheries.

  • Fishing revenues plunged by $4 million in 2024 — a financial shock for a community of just 350 residents.

  • Erosion rates doubled in the last decade, threatening homes and infrastructure.

“When the ice disappears, everything changes,” warns Dr. Robert Foy of NOAA.

Meanwhile, seafood markets feel the ripple effect: Alaska provides 60% of the U.S. seafood supply, and warming oceans mean scarcer — and pricier — catches.

Economic shockwaves

The story of St. Paul Island isn’t just about rising seas and lost crabs; it’s about the fragility of coastal economies everywhere.
Investors should take careful note:

  • Seafood and fisheries markets are increasingly volatile and could face supply shocks.

  • Insurance costs for coastal infrastructure are already climbing, particularly in Arctic and sub-Arctic regions.

  • Companies investing in climate resilience technologies — from coastal defenses to seafood farming innovation — are gaining traction and could become strong investment themes over the next decade.

In short:
What happens in the Arctic doesn’t stay in the Arctic.
St. Paul Island is a living case study in why understanding climate risks today can shape smarter financial decisions tomorrow.

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