Arctic
WWF is working to protect key species and habitats in the Arctic, a region threatened by global warming, the oil and gas industry, illegal and over-fishing.
Loss of sea ice in the Arctic Ocean is happening decades ahead of most predictions and is now self perpetuating as open water absorbs more sunlight and heat, accelerating the warming of the sea, leading to further ice loss. Some of the added heat warms the air and land and this can lead to release of methane and further enhance climate change through a powerful feedback to global climate change.
More information about the WWF Arctic programme can be found at: www.panda.org/arctic
WWF-UK is currently focusing on the Barents Sea in the Norwegian and Russian Arctic, one of the richest marine ecosystems in the world. The Arctic is vital to regulating global climate change and the focus of the WWF Arctic work is on climate change
Why is the Barents Sea important?
The Barents Sea contains the world’s largest deep-water coral reef, the world’s highest density of seabirds, exceptionally large fish stocks and unique habitats for seals, whales, walrus and seabirds. There are an estimated 5,000 polar bears and around 100 bowhead whales living in this region
The bowhead whale was protected in the 1930s after centuries of whaling drastically reduced its population. There are signs that numbers are finally starting to recover, but it remains critically endangered in this region.
Challenges and threats
Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing, oil and gas development, shipping and the impacts of climate change are threatening a variety of marine species.
Climate change means the Arctic marine environment is likely to be more exploited in the coming decades, with retreating sea ice attracting more shipping, fisheries and oil/gas exploration. The Arctic holds the world's largest remaining untapped gas reserves and some of its largest undeveloped oil reserves.
More than half of the entire world’s cod comes from the Barents Sea – the UK being a significant market. With global cod catches having fallen by 70% over the past 30 years, it is vital that fish are sustainably managed.
WWF in action
Dedicated to maintaining and restoring ecosystems in the Barents Sea, WWF is calling for the following action plan to be implemented:
- Identify coastal and marine areas with high conservation value in the Russian part of the Barents Sea, and plan where protected areas should be sited and highlight sensitive sites where development should not occur.
- Promote adoption of Marine Stewardship Council sustainable fishing standards.
- Promote the establishment of new protected areas in the most valuable Barents Sea coastal ecosystems. WWF will continue to aid the development of management plans for such areas through activities such as survey and baseline data collection – essential first steps to monitor the success of protected areas.
- Campaign for the continued moratorium on oil drilling outside Lofoten (off the north-west coast of Norway) and train volunteers to combat oil spills.
- Develop and promote guidelines for sustainable whale watching in Norway.