On April 4, 2017 the IUCN released a report in order to advance the recognition and conservation of globally significant natural marine sights in the Arctic.
"This polynya regularly appears in the same spot, winter after winter, making it an important resource for marine mammals, fish and seabirds, including the long-tailed duck and the spectacled eider. Unlike other Pacific walrus, those living in the Laptev Sea do not migrate due to the polynya’s winter persistence. Oil licenses cover almost the entire area of the polynya, raising the threat of oil spills and wildlife disturbance from seismic surveys."
