The Marine Mammal Council has started a field phase of the Polar Bear Studies project, with the support of the Russian Geographical Society in 2013.

On 29 August, an expert group arrived in the town of Pevek, in the Chaunsky District of the Chukotka Autonomous Area, to conduct fieldwork. At this phase, their task is to conduct aerial surveys of the coast of the East Siberian and Chukchi Seas within the Chukotka Autonomous Area. The experts expect to obtain data on the seasonal distribution of polar bears on the coast during the ice-free period, collect biological samples of the discovered animals, and, if possible, mark several bears with satellite tags. The results are necessary for the development of effective measures to preserve the Alaska-Chukotka polar bear population and to improve research methods.

In addition to the research, activities for the environmental education of the local population are scheduled in order to prevent conflicts between polar bears and humans.