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The North Pole’s floating
ice-reef habitat is disappearing

Arctic Ocean biodiversity
& ecosystem services are at risk

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* Representing annual summer sea ice extent

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Commercial vessels
bring stressors & risks
to an undisturbed ecosystem

As the floating ice-reef recedes and creates a newly accessible ocean, the biodiversity within the Arctic Ocean, already challenged by stressors resulting from the impacts of human greenhouse gas emissions, now faces the introduction of direct impacts from surface vessel activity.

The most biologically active layer of these waters (the uppermost) is warming and acidifying faster than anywhere on Earth – and the consequent environmental stressors on, and risks to, species are further intensified by the Arctic Amplification Effect.

The direct impacts, stressors and risks posed by vessels involved in commercial fishing, transboundary cargo shipping, and deep-sea hydrocarbon and mineral exploration/extraction put at heightened risk the sustainability of the Arctic Ocean’s biodiversity and associated ecosystem services.

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Proposed solution:
Protect this global commons
for the global public’s benefit

The Central Arctic Ocean, the world’s northernmost high seas region, is by definition a global commons, with all such international spaces assigned to be a common heritage of mankind and for the benefit of all citizens and nations worldwide. Unsurprisingly for its location, these waters have unique geophysical, oceanographic and biological characteristics, and host an entire ecosystem that has remained undisturbed throughout human history largely due to the barrier to entry presented by its sea-ice cover.

However, as the sea-ice habitat recedes to create an ice-free ocean over the coming decades, new risks arise for the wildlife, biodiversity and ecosystem services from potentially increasing vessel activity. 90 North Foundation proposes that a comprehensive suite of conservation measures be secured to address the impacts, stressors and risks posed by fishing, shipping and mining vessels in the Central Arctic Ocean, the measures to be incorporated in an international agreement which establishes a North Pole Marine Reserve by 2037.

Covering 2,800,000 square kilometres around the North Pole, this fastest-changing of ocean environments requiring urgent protections, would thereby host the world’s most iconic marine reserve with the highest level of conservation protection for its biodiversity and the ecosystem services it provides to our global community.

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"With your support we can secure the necessary conservation measures to protect the super-vulnerable biodiversity in the waters surrounding the North Pole for the global public's benefit."

Marine research, public education and conservation advocacy are now urgently needed to protect the region’s threatened wildlife, habitat and ecosystem services.

In a partnership with the 90 North Foundation, the University of Exeter’s world-class marine research faculty has set up the Arctic Ocean Research Unit. Its purpose is to research the risks to the region’s biodiversity and ecosystem services – and the solution.

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Pen Hadow
Arctic Explorer & Conservationist

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