2025 fieldwork in Svalbard

This year’s fieldwork in spectacular Svalbard for the NICE project is finalized. Two field campaigns, one during summer and one during fall, have been conducted by PhD candidate Saron from the BTN team as well as many researchers from the collaborating partners. The fieldwork in Svalbard offers quite challenging conditions given its location in the high Arctic, however with amazing views.

The work is part of the NICE project, which investigates how climate change is reshaping marine ecosystems in the Arctic. A warmer North Atlantic has brought increased inflows of Atlantic water into western Svalbard, transforming fjords like Isfjorden. Once dominated by Arctic charr, these waters now also host Atlantic salmon and invasive pink salmon—species previously uncommon in these larger numbers this far north.

During summer, the NICE team spent two weeks at sea in Isfjorden to capture Arctic charr and pink salmon. The team operated directly from a sailboat that was anchored in several different bays around Isfjorden - and the team spent their days gillnetting, tagging these two species with acoustic transmitters, and deploying receivers in and around fishing areas. However, some fish will not survive being captured in the nets. Fish that didn't survive in the gill nets were brought on board to be taken a variety of samples from - including scales, otoliths, muscle tissue, eyes, gills, liver, heart and stomach content. Additionally, all fish collected were also taken a photo of for potential quantification of morphology and phenotypes.

The field campaign during the fall consisted primarily of deploying and checking the net in the fjord for Atlantic salmon and pink salmon. The team checked the net every 2-4 hours, throughout the day and night. Atlantic salmon or pink salmon that were captured were tagged with acoustic transmitters before being released, allowing us to track their movements throughout the fjord. As mentioned, some fish don’t survive being captured in the net, so tissue samples including muscles, lives, heart, gills, and stomach content, were taken from all fish that did not survive, a smaller, parallel project financed by Svalbard Environmental Protection Fund. These tissue samples will provide insight into their diet, parasites, genetics, and physiological state which will add knowledge to a greater part of their Arctic ecology.

By tracking and studying these fish, BTN together with the collaborating partners on the NICE project hope to uncover how each species responds to environmental change and interacts within this new Arctic ecosystem. Beyond advancing science, the findings will support local communities and management authorities, such as the Governor of Svalbard and the Longyearbyen hunting and fishing association, in adapting to the realities of a warming Arctic.

Fieldwork in Svalbard comes with its challenges. The weather can shift quickly, with strong winds, cold temperatures, and long hours and little sleep. Still, working among glaciers and under the midnight sun makes it a truly unique and memorable experience. Despite the long shifts and the cold, the field season has been a success—driven by collaboration, perseverance, and a shared commitment to understanding how life at the edge of the Arctic is changing. Thanks to all the great help from students and researchers from our collaborating partners: Akvaplan-NIVA, NTNU, NMBU, NINA, UNIS and Dalhousie University.

#NFR_NICE (NFR project nr. 343120)