Earlier this year, The Grocer travelled to the Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard to learn about how climate change is influencing Arctic ecosystems and opening up new opportunities – and challenges – around cod fishing.
Located halfway between the Norwegian mainland and the North Pole, Svalbard is considered one of the last great wildernesses in the world. But in recent years, climate change has had a dramatic impact on its frozen landscapes. Not only are the vast glaciers that make up 60% of Svalbard’ landmass retreating at an increasingly rapid rate, but the sea ice that once covered its fjords for much of the year is melting.
As the water gets warmer, Atlantic cod are migrating further north to the waters around Svalbard, and the retreat of the ice is opening up the area to bottom trawlers from the Barents Sea. This is creating a commercial opportunity for Norway’s fishermen and the islands, but environmentalists are also concerned it is posing a potential threat to the delicate Arctic marine ecosystem.
Watch our video to learn more, and find out what Norway is doing to protect Svalbard’s Arctic wilderness. Subscribers can also read all about it here.
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