Distribution of marine, benthic macro-organisms at Svalbard ...

INTRODUCTION
The background for the project is an initiative from the Ministry of Environment (MD) to
carry out a mapping of “marine biological nature values” in the coastal areas of Svalbard
(including Bear Island) and Jan Mayen. A similar mapping study has been carried out along
the Norwegian coast (Brattegard & Holthe 1997). Thus, the present inventory at Svalbard and
Jan Mayen should employ a similar methodology. The mapping primarily should be carried
out based on existing information, supplemented with cruises to some selected areas, from
which data is scarce.
MD issued a written request on the 11th July, 1994 to the Directorate for Nature Management
(DN) to start and administrate this task. DN appointed a working group (called the “DN-
Working Group”), which started its work in April 1995. The group deemed it most sensible
to focus on macrobenthos (both plants and animals) as basis for a biogeographical analysis.
The geographical study area was specified as the “Svalbard-box” (Fig. 1). The collected
information should be sorted in a database, and later co-ordinated with databases at the
Norwegian Polar Institute dealing with marine mammals and seabirds in the same
geographical area.
Data from the database already has been incorporated into a report on the environment
conditions at Jan Mayen (Gabrielsen et al. 1997).
The aim of the present mapping of marine organisms is to supply the national authorities with
scientific information which can be used for monitoring of the Arctic environment.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
The area
The main focus originally was on benthic organisms living on the continental shelf of
Svalbard and Jan Mayen. However, since Svalbard comprises also deeper fjords and straits, a
more comprehensive definition for the “Svalbard area” was necessary. Therefore, the area of
investigation was extended, and the database now includes marine benthic organisms and
demersal fish recorded within the latitudes 74° - 81° N and longitudes 10°-35 °E (Fig. 1). In
addition, the marine areas on the continental shelf around the island of Jan Mayen are
included.
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