Barents Sea environment and conservation

Europe's last wild sea!

The Barents Sea is one of the most productive marine ecosystems in the world and among the most biologically diverse in the Arctic. Among its spectacular features are 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 polar bears.

The Barents Sea Ecoregion covers 2.2 million square kilometres in the transition zone between European boreal and European arctic nature, stretching north to the Arctic Ocean from the coasts of northern Norway and North West Russia.

The Barents Sea is Europe's last large, clean and intact marine ecosystem, but it is also a region subject to rapid industrial development. Escalating human activities such as commercial fisheries, oil and gas exploration, shipping and aquaculture add to the impacts from climate change and increasing levels of toxic chemicals, and pose serious threats to the marine ecosystem and biodiversity.

The Barents Sea is one of WWF's prioritised ecoregions for biodiversity conservation. WWF is working for a balanced development of the Barents Sea, where the rich and productive ecosystem can continue to support the welfare of the human population while still maintaining its natural beauty.

WWF believes the Barents Sea has excellent prospects to become a world-class example of successful management and sustainable development.