SciCAO: Collecting critical data about the Arctic fish ecosystem

The Arctic Ocean is changing fast as warming drives ice loss and pushes sub-Arctic fish north, opening up potential fishing opportunities. In 2021, an international agreement set a 16-year moratorium on fishing to collect more information about its sustainability. SciCAO, a project funded by the European Union, is now closing key knowledge gaps to support the implementation of the agreement.

Preventing unregulated fishing in the Central Arctic Ocean

The rapid transformation of the Arctic Ocean threatens the Arctic ecosystems.

Longer ice-free seasons open routes for shipping, enable access to natural resources and raise prospects for commercial fisheries. This makes the region a focus of economic and strategic interest for both Arctic and non-Arctic countries, but it also exposes the area to risks linked to increased human activity.

To prevent unregulated fishing and protect this sensitive environment, nine countries and the European Union signed the Central Arctic Ocean Fisheries Agreement in 2021. The agreement applies a precautionary “science first” approach, imposing a 16-year moratorium on commercial fishing to allow essential research under the Joint Programme for Scientific Research and Monitoring. 

Scientific knowledge about Central Arctic Ocean fish populations is still very limited, with only 17 finfish species identified so far. 

Closing the knowledge gap about Arctic fish 

The SciCAO project was launched to close critical knowledge gaps about Arctic ecosystems and fish populations and to ensure that any future fishing activity in the Central Arctic Ocean is based on sound science and precautionary principles.

Coordinated by the German Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, the SciCAO project is run by five research institutes from four European countries.  The project aims at collecting new data on the diversity, distribution and ecology of finfish in the Central Arctic Ocean, which remains largely unknown. 

Its results and scientific data will provide crucial evidence in support of the Central Arctic Ocean Fisheries Agreement’s objectives, ensuring that any potential future fisheries activity is based on sound scientific knowledge and sustainability principles. 

The SciCAO project is backed by the EU through the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund. Its findings will help understand whether sustainable fishing will ever be possible in the Central Arctic Ocean.

The project’s main objectives are: 

• Assess species composition, distribution and population parameters of Arctic fish
• Improve non-invasive monitoring methods by combining hydroacoustics, catches, and eDNA
• Map food webs and pelagic fish diets using zooplankton biomass data
• Trace migratory pathways of Atlantic gadoids with genetic and temperature-history analyses
• Share data with local communities, policymakers, and the international scientific community.

Furthermore, the project aims to improve non-invasive monitoring methods, study fish migrations and diets, and share all data openly to support a sustainable Arctic Ocean management.

SciCAO’s field expedition: uncovering Arctic marine secrets

Aboard the research icebreaker RV Polarstern, the project conducted a 65-day field expedition, the 2024 ArcWatch-2, with a team of 54 scientists from 12 countries, covering 1,564 nautical miles in the Central Arctic Ocean and collecting new physical, chemical, and biological data from this little-studied region.

Using cutting-edge tools like trawl nets, eDNA sampling and hydroacoustics, the team discovered that the glacier lanternfish is the main fish species in deep Arctic waters. They also studied zooplankton and other small marine life to understand food webs and fish habitats. 

Trawl catches and echosounding data from the expedition indicated low fish abundances, suggesting virtually no commercial fishery potential under current environmental conditions.

The SciCAO’s project coordinator, Dr Hauke Flores, declares: 

“The surprisingly wide distribution of lanternfish found by the project underscores why the Central Arctic Ocean Fisheries Agreement matters — there is no room for fishing, but a far bigger ecological role for fish than we ever imagined.” 

A good story of global cooperation

The Central Arctic Ocean Fisheries Agreement, supported by the SciCAO project’s investigations, is a good story of global cooperation, showing that countries can work together to act cautiously before exploiting fragile ecosystems.

Ensuring a sustainable future for the Arctic Ocean will require governance that balances environmental stewardship with economic ambitions while respecting the rights and needs of Indigenous communities. 

Looking ahead

The SciCAO project will use its findings to contribute to a better estimation of fish biomass and its links with the ecosystem in the Central Arctic Ocean. The project will investigate what Arctic fish eat, where they come from, and how they move and adapt to their environment. These studies will lead to the first full estimate of pelagic fish biomass and their role in the Arctic ecosystem.

SciCAO will also keep on working with international partners, share all data openly and communicate results through scientific publications and meetings to support sustainable management of the Arctic Ocean.

For more information about the SciCAO project, check the project website, the project page in the Funding & Tenders Portal, the policy brief, and the project factsheet.