Studies of how natural decadal and multi-decadal climatic fluctuations have affected marine ecosystems (e.g. Ottersen and Stenseth, 2001; Titov, 2001; Boitsov and Orlova, 2004; Titov and Ozhigin, 2005; Drinkwater, 2006), have provided insight into what can be expected given the suggested continued warming of the Barents Sea (Ellingsen et al., 2008). Historically, an increase in temperature of only...

The combined effects of climate change and fishing are complicated by complex trophic interactions (see e.g. Hjermann et al. 2007). However, based on the present situation, known trophic interactions and ecosystem effects of fishing and climate change, some possible scenarios can be outlined; these are discussed below. Although a continued warming is likely in the longer term, short term cooling m...

As discussed in other chapters of this report, several aspects of the impact that human activities have on the ecosystem are clearly manifested and visible or will likely become so in the near future (see chapters General background description of the ecosystem - Ecosystem interactions - Human impact; Current and expected state of the ecosystem - Human activities /impact and Current and expected stat...

Air temperatures have increased almost twice as fast in the Arctic than the global average over the last 50 years. Models predict that air temperatures will continue to increase considerably, and summer sea ice in the Arctic will disappear before the middle of this century and winter sea ice by the end of the current century. Because of the complex dynamics of the Barents Sea ecosystem, and becaus...