Frontpage MOSJ is a governmental system that monitors the environment on Svalbard and Jan Mayen Climate Atmosphere (3) Land (3) Ocean (5) Influence Fishery and freshwater fishing (1) Hunting and trapping (5) Pollution (14) Traffic (5) Fauna Marine fauna (18) Terrestrial fauna (3) Flora Landbased flora (1) Newly updated indicators Climate Ocean Sea ice extent in the Barents Sea and Fram Strait It is important to monitor the extent of sea ice because it is vital for the climate in the Arctic and globally, and because it sets important limits for the ecosystems in the Arctic. The sea ice extent in… Fauna Marine fauna Polar bear The polar bear (Ursus maritimus) in the Barents Sea lives on disappearing sea ice. Climate warming is the main threat to polar bears. The polar bear habitat is changing rapidly, and… Fauna Terrestrial fauna Arctic fox The Arctic fox (Vulpes lagopus) is indigenous to the Arctic tundra and an apex predator and scavenger in Svalbard. It is functionally important because it affects prey species on land, through ground… Influence Hunting and trapping Svalbard ptarmigan bag The population of Svalbard rock ptarmigan (Lagopus muta hyperborea) has the Red List status of Least Concern (LC). Between 190 and 340 hunting licenses for Svalbard rock ptarmigan are distributed … Influence Traffic Marine and coastal tourism Marine and coastal tourism in Svalbard has historically had a substantial increase, and the development since 1996 is well documented. The activities may have negative effects on the environment… Influence Traffic Overnight stays in Longyearbyen The number of annual overnight stays in public accommodation in Longyearbyen shows the attraction of Svalbard as a travel destination and gives an indication of what impact the natural and cultural environment…
