However, as Arctic warming continues to accelerate—currently at a rate four times faster than the global average—so does the speed and scale at which this critical sea ice retreats. This in turn limits the nutrient flow to the surface and therefore restricts the food sources needed for marine life to prosper, including zooplankton, which is a vital input in the healthy sustainment of global fisheries.
“Zooplankton dynamics are intricately tied to climate change patterns. As indicators of ecosystem health, their study is paramount for sustainable fishing and biodiversity conservation,” says Dr. Maria Grigoratou, Science Officer for the EU coordination of the G7 Future of the Seas and Oceans Initiative (FSOI) Coordination Centre at Mercator Ocean International. “Given the Arctic’s strong seasonality, some plankton species become a potent energy source that sustains life throughout the year. Larger animals, such as whales, eagerly anticipate these blooms, traveling thousands of miles to feed on these energy-rich species, ensuring their survival and that of their offspring. If climate change is causing zooplankton to move, we need to know about it.”
To date, dozens of initiatives have risen to the challenge of preserving and understanding our ocean and marine ecosystems. The FSOI unites marine scientists, government representatives, and ministries across the G7 nations and the EU, with the aim of enhancing the global ocean observing system. The initiative seeks to drive coordinated investments, lead technological endeavors, and foster governance and policy consensus among G7 nations.
In Ittoqqortoormiit, traditional hunting routes are being redrawn by the changing patterns of marine life. Hunters can sometimes travel as far as 200 kilometers from the village, depending on the season and the animals’ movements and life cycles, which are often unpredictable.
Arctic Ocean Observing
The Arctic’s extreme and volatile conditions, its remoteness, and its vast size all contribute to the operational obstacles faced by researchers. Despite the advances in remote sensing, the technology has limited observation capacity in polar regions. This means that researchers need to conduct on-site investigations. There is also the implicit complexity of studying marine life. “Unlike measuring temperature, which might employ a single instrument, marine life research, including zooplankton, demands diverse tools tailored to the environment, whether in the Arctic or the Red Sea,” adds Grigoratou.
A CTD instrument (top) and UVP6 (bottom) descend into the Arctic Ocean. (Image credit: Xavier Boymond)
In June 2023, Lead Scientist of the second year GOOD-IMDOS (Global Ocean Oxygen Decade–Integrated Marine Debris Observing System) expedition and Marine Biogeochemist at GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, Germany, Dr. Tim Boxhammer and his team arrived at Ittopqqortoormiit onboard Le Commandant Charcot for a strategic mission under a five-year EU-led Arctic observing program GOOD-IMDOS equipped with a CTD (conductivity, temperature, and depth) for physical oceanography measurements, an Underwater Vision Profiler (UVP6) for real-time images of plankton and other particulates, and other sensors.
Fueled by the success of the first expedition in 2022, the GOOD-IMDOS program aims to deepen our understanding of the ocean’s oxygen levels, the health of planktonic ecosystems, and the disturbing prevalence of microplastic pollution in the Arctic. Over five years, the expedition will contribute valuable data to the United Nations’ Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021–2030), the GOOD program, and the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS)’s IMDOS program.
Mesozooplankton, a subset of zooplankton, are of particular interest. The images captured by the UVP6 will help identify mesozooplankton varieties, from copepods to worms and jellyfish. As sea conditions change and become warmer, some of these tiny animals move to new locations, chasing their favorable environmental conditions. Certain zooplankton predators adjust their migration routes to track the plankton, leading to unexpected policy and regulatory consequences.
A prime example is the lobster fisheries in the Arctic’s sub-polar North Atlantic coasts of the US and Canada. Grigoratou explains, “The endangered North Atlantic Right Whale has seen increased fatalities due to human factors in the last decade. This is attributed to a specific plankton species shifting its habitat due to climate change, leading whales into new locations where they expose themselves to human threats like fishing activities. The US and Canada have implemented different regulations to protect right whales, which have caused disputes and trade implications between the national lobster industries.”
This is just one example of how changes to even one zooplankton species foreshadow the broader ecological and socioeconomic complexities we might face in the Arctic and polar regions as climate change progresses. It underscores the need for a redefined policy approach and greater international collaboration in decision-making.
Expanding Plankton Observing
In September 2023, the G7 FSOI working group held a workshop dedicated to plankton, covering both zooplankton and phytoplankton. Grigoratou explained, “Our primary aim was to bridge the gap between direct water observations, satellite data, and predictive models. This would help us get a clearer picture of how marine ecosystems work and refine the tools we use to guide policies, especially those related to vital resources like seafood. Our next big challenge was addressing the issue of data accessibility.”
A study from February 2023 revealed that only around 18 percent of long-term zooplankton data is openly available. The workshop aimed to tackle this issue, finding ways to increase open access to this crucial data for researchers, policymakers, blue economy industries, and other stakeholders such as fishing and aquaculture industries.
Grigoratou adds, “We need to realize that what happens in the Arctic doesn’t just stay there. Its impact is felt far and wide. So, it’s vital for people everywhere to stay informed about its changing landscape.”
To learn more about ocean observing, visit: https://www.eu4oceanobs.eu/oceanobserving-awareness
This feature appeared in Environment, Coastal & Offshore (ECO) Magazine’s 2023 Winter edition Fisheries & Aquaculture, to read more access the magazine here.
