Arctic Ocean Seabed

Seabed with boulders on soft bottom with benthos community existing of sea anemones (Hormathia digitata and H. nodosa, Urticina eques), different sponges (left) and feather star Heliometra glacialis. Image taken by Greenpeace during a mapping survey of the Arctic Ocean, north of Svalbard (Norway). Start position: 80° 55.6 N, 18¡ 33.8 E end position: 80° 55.1 N, 18¡ 33.2 E depth range (m): 160-180. 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.