The report written by the Norwegian Polar Institute together with a number of other Norwegian research institutions gives a picture of the environmental developments in the Barents Sea. Among the conclusions is a significant rise in ocean temperatures over the last few years. This has led to large changes in the amount of ocean ice. The rising temperature has also led to a large number of fish species from southerly latitudes, now has migrated to the Barents Sea.
The stock of cod in the Barents Sea has also been submitted to overfishing and the amount of spawning cod is diminishing. Several species of seabird are diminishing along the coast of the Lofoten archipelago. In the reports the human activity in the area has also undergone studies. In 2007 more than 9.8 million tons of petroleum products divided on 212 tankers, went from Northwest Russia, through the Barents Sea. Over the last 10 years more than 20 exploration wells have been drilled in the Norwegian part of the Barents Sea. The Snøhvit gas field last fall came into production, while operator ENI is considering the development of the Goliat oil field.
The report is part of ongoing Norwegian work with the socalled Integrated Management of the Marine Environment of the Barents Sea and the Sea Areas off the Lofoten Islands. The report, which bans oil exploration in the Lofoten area will be revised in 2010. While the oil industry pushes for the opening of the area, the fish industry remains highly sceptical towards the petroluem plans.
Read the Polar Institute report here. (Norwegian)
Here you can also read the whole report on Integrated Management of the Marine Environment of the Barents Sea and the Sea Areas off the Lofoten Islands at government.no (in English)
