Survey report (Part 2) from the joint Norwegian/Russian Ecosystem Survey in the Barents Sea and the adjacent waters August-October 2023 — Marine environment, Mesozooplankton, Commercial Demersal Fish, Fish Biodiversity, Commercial Shellfish, Benthic Invertebrate Community, Marine Mammals and Seabirds

Abstract

The aim of the joint Norwegian/Russian ecosystem survey in the Barents Sea and adjacent waters, August-October (BESS) is to monitor the status and changes of in the Barents Sea ecosystem. The survey has since 2004 been conducted annually in the autumn, as a collaboration between the IMR in Norway and the Polar Branch of VNIRO (PINRO) in Russia. The general survey plan, tasks, and sailings routes are usually agreed at the annual PINRO-IMR Meeting in March, but in 2023, due to external factors making physical meetings between Norwegian and Russian researchers difficult, they were agreed by correspondence. Survey coordinators in 2023 was Dmitry Prozorkevich (PINRO) and Geir Odd Johansen (IMR). No exchange of Russian and Norwegian experts between their respective vessels in 2023. The 21th BESS was carried out during the period from 10th August to 7th October by the Norwegian research vessels “Kronprins Haakon”, “G.O. Sars” and “Johan Hjort”, and the Russian vessels “Vilnyus”. The scientists and technicians taking part in the survey onboard the research vessels are listed in Table 1. As always, we would like to express our sincere gratitude to all the crew and scientific personnel onboard RVs “Vilnyus”, “G.O. Sars”, “Kronprins Haakon” and “Johan Hjort” and for their dedicated work, as well as all the people involved in planning and reporting of BESS 2023. This is a first part of the survey report summarising the observations and status assessments based on the survey data. The information obtained in BESS 2023 will be further used for the implementation of various international and national projects, assessment of fish and invertebrate stocks, environmental monitoring, etc.