- C31, C35, Q11 -

MENU Mission Team The North Poles floatingicereef habitat is disappearing Arctic Ocean biodiversity ecosystem services are at risk Are you briefed to respond. Representing annual summer sea ice extent Commercial vesselsbring stressors risksto an undisturbed ecosystem As the floating icereef recedes and creates a newly accessible ocean the biodiversity within the Arctic Ocean already challenged by stressors resulting from the impacts of human greenhouse gas emissions now faces the introduction of direct impacts from surface vessel activity. The most biologically active layer of these waters the uppermost is warming and acidifying faster than anywhere on Earth and the consequent environmental stressors on and risks to species are further intensified by the Arctic Amplification Effect. The direct impacts stressors and risks posed by vessels involved in commercial fishing transboundary cargo movements and deepsea hydrocarbon and mineral operations put at heightened risk the sustainability of the Arctic Oceans biodiversity and its associated global ecosystem services which include seafood production genetic resources carbon sequestration oxygen production air purification and climate control.