Several species in the Arctic Ocean are more common further south – news Troms and Finnmark

– It is not a pure arctic ecosystem with only arctic species now, says Randi Ingvaldsen, researcher at the Norwegian Institute of Marine Research. For the first time, open bodies of water under the ice in the Arctic Ocean, so-called pelagic trawling, have been trawled as far north as 87.5 latitude – almost at the North Pole. Ingvaldsen is one of the researchers who has now compiled the results from the voyage that the icebreaker “Kronprins Haakon” was on in 2021. The ship pulled in the trawl 12 times, but ended up with only 7 fish. Despite the fact that it sounds small, it is not very surprising, according to the researcher. – There is not much fish in the Arctic Ocean, other than polar cod, but it does not live too far under the ice. This trawl has been further down in the depths. The crew of the icebreaker “Kronprins Haakon” on deck when they brought in the trawl net that they have used to fish under the ice in the Arctic Ocean. Photo: Bodil Bluhm – Usually due to ocean currents It is, however, the rest of the findings in the trawl that are surprising. The team got several migratory species in the catch. – Of all the species we had, we found almost more species that are common further south than those that are common only in the Arctic, says Ingvaldsen. But how did they end up so far north? Researcher at UiT – Norway’s Arctic University, Bodil Bluhm, himself took part in the trip last summer. She says that you usually find species that occur further south because of the ocean currents. – What is important to look at over time is whether they manage, and whether the children manage to survive. This is now changing in the Arctic due to temperature changes and changes in ice conditions. Bluhm emphasizes that this is currently difficult to say without further research. An arctic jumping crayfish is among the finds under the polar sea ice. It is larger and has more lipids (fats) than other species in the genus from more southerly regions. Photo: Fredrik Broms / Northernlights photography – Must be documented Because fish move north, interest in fisheries is increasing, also in the far north of the Arctic Ocean. Bluhm says that trawling in the Arctic Ocean is unpredictable. – You bring in a large net and there is very little catch. If there are fish there, or some other catch, it has been proven that there is life and that the net worked, she says. Despite the poor catch, the researcher points out that it is still necessary to document the result, both for research, fisheries and international agreements. Bodil Bluhm, professor of marine biology at UiT. Photo: Bodil Bluhm – The fact that there are few fish is also a result. That’s why we’re happy, even when we don’t find that many fish in the net, she explains. The voyage was an important contribution to filling some of the knowledge gaps about the Arctic Ocean, says Bluhm. She points out that it will be expensive to go with a trawl this far north. – It is a pretty clear signal that it is not profitable to fish there, but it is important to learn about the ecosystem anyway. Concerned about the findings Marine Research Director Nils Gunnar Kvamstø points out that the Arctic is the region where climate change is happening the fastest. – This investigation shows that it is really happening, and that it affects life in the sea. Even if we don’t feel it on the body, the long-term changes and trends are in full swing. Nils Gunnar Kvamstø. Photo: Dan Henrik Klausen / news He also emphasizes that the climate in the Arctic is highly variable and changes from year to year, but that the long-term trend is clear. – This is disturbing. It shows that it is five past twelve, and now action must be taken in the form of measures to reduce emissions. We must take the insight we now have into action, says Kvamstø. This is FF “Kronprins Haakon” Ice class: Polar Class 3 (operation in 2-year ice) Equipped with moonpool and can operate ROV, AUV and helicopter Range: 15,000 nautical miles Cruising speed: 15 knots Cabins: 38 (15 crew and 40 guests) Laboratories: 15 Length: 100 meters Width: 21 meters Year of construction: 2016-2017 Cost: NOK 1.4 billion Owner: Norwegian Polar Institute Operation: Marine Research Institute Users: UiT Norwegian Arctic University, Norwegian Polar Institute and Marine Research Institute Source: Norwegian Polar Institute



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