Arctic Ocean Seabed

Stones covered with the corraline red algae Lithothamnion glaciale, soft corals (Gersemia rubiformis) and sea anemone Urticina eques attached. This seabed imagery is taken by Greenpeace during a mapping survey of the Arctic Ocean, north of Svalbard (Norway). Start position: 80° 33.3 N, 16¡ 39.7 E end position: 80° 34.2 N, 16¡ 30.3 E and a depth range (m): 50-65. The underwater ecosystem deep in this region, is largely unknown to scientists. The region is under pressure from fishing fleets moving northwards, eager to exploit new fishing grounds revealed by melting sea ice, caused by climate change. The image was taken by a drop-camera flown approximately one metre above the sea bottom.