Barents Sea

With its relatively warm ocean currents and high biodiversity, the Barents is one of Europe’s last large, clean and relatively undisturbed marine ecosystems.

FEATURED

A tale of two bears in a changing Arctic

Here on the Barents Sea, polar bears are experiencing the fastest loss of sea ice recorded throughout the Arctic.

Keeping oil out of important areas

WWF is working in Norway to make areas such as Lofoten permanently off limits to oil drilling, because of the natural values of the region, and the economic value of the local fishery.

Reducing polar bear conflict on Svalbard,Norway

Svalbard is a hotspot for polar bear tourism - and conflict. The local government is working with organizations like WWF, scientists and the tourist sector to find the best methods for managing conflict.

Reducing the oil spill risk

WWF has mapped the enormous potential reach of an oil spill in the Barents Sea.

Supporting polar bear research on Svalbard

WWF is supporting Norwegian scientists on Svalbard who are researching the local polar bear population.

Supporting reindeer herders

WWF is working with Saami to explore ways of reducing future cumulative impacts of different pressures (like mining, wind power, forestry, tourism and large carnivores) on reindeer herding in Sweden.

Tracking bowheads

WWF supports the work of the Norwegian Polar Institute, which is tracking rare bowhead whales near Svalbard.

Working with fisheries in Russia

WWF works with Arctic fisheries and fishery management units in the Barents, Bering and Okhotsk seas to promote and support their MSC certification, encourage policy and innovation to introduce ecosystem based management, reduce IUU (illegal, unreported and unregulated) fishing practices, and to reduce the collateral damage of fisheries bycatch and protect vulnerable bottom habitats.