Polar Cod
The stock of polar cod in the Barents Sea is probably between 1.5 and 2.0 million tons. This estimate is uncertain, however, due to incomplete sampling coverage for the stock.
This resource has not been exploited to any noticeable degree since the early 1970s. The distribution area and the size of the stock are mapped by acoustic methods during an annual ecosystem survey in the autumn. It is not clear whether polar cod found further north and east belong to the Barents Sea stock, which seems to spawn in two separate areas: east of the Spitsbergen Archipelago; and in the southeastern regions of the Barents Sea.
The polar cod plays an important role in the area. It feeds on zooplankton and is eaten by other fish, seals, whales and birds. In 2008 the stock was estimated at 1.2 million tons.
