Arctic marine productivity from plankton to fish: Tools and first estimates

Abstract

The Arctic region undergoes major pressures from climate variability. Its major manifestations are the increase in temperature and decrease in sea ice coverage and volume, with associated variability in ocean and atmosphere circulation. Warming and ice melting might also open up economic opportunities in the region that might in turn lead to more pressure on this fragile ecosystem. The ECO-ARCTIC activity of the JRC addresses “climate impacts and sustainable provision of ecosystem services in the Arctic”. ECO-ARCTIC focuses jointly on the priority areas "Climate Change and Safeguarding the Arctic Environment" and "Sustainable development in and around the Arctic" of the joint communication “An integrated European Union policy for the Arctic". This report describes on-going efforts at studying and documenting Arctic marine productivity across trophic levels, including primary production by phytoplankton, secondary production by zooplankton, and fisheries management.