A set of oceanographic data on the state of sea waters, the habitat of commercial aquatic organisms, will be collected as usual. Specialists will monitor bottom communities, collect zooplankton samples and materials on the distribution and abundance of marine mammals and birds. Scientists will also conduct ecological-parasitological and ichthyopathological studies of commercial aquatic organisms and take samples to assess the pollution of soil, water and biota in the Barents Sea.
The habitat conditions, occurrence of indicator species of vulnerable marine ecosystems and much more will also be assessed.
The data collected during the voyage will allow us to assess the current processes occurring in the Barents Sea ecosystem, the state of commercial stocks of bottom fish species, their replenishment with the next young generations, and also to predict the spawning approaches of capelin in 2026. The results of the comprehensive studies will serve as the basis for future recommendations on the amounts of permissible removal of commercial fish and invertebrates.
Press service of VNIRO