Fauna and Flora

The mixture of warm Atlantic and cold, nutrient-rich Arctic waters creates favourable conditions for underwater life in the Barents Sea.

When we speak of sea mammals, we mean whales, dolphins and seals. There are few places in the whole world where it is possible to meet members of these three groups at the same time. But one such place is where two seas – the White Sea and the Barents Sea– meet. Here, just once a year, at the end of May, you can find harp and grey seals, and beluga whales, Orcas and other whales.

Did you know that the Barents Sea is one of the world’s most abundant seas? ‘Of course! It’s got lots of fish in it,’ you say, and you’re absolutely right. But fish in themselves aren’t that interesting to us divers –they’re cautious and they swim fast; you can’t keep up! What they do do, though, is attract hunters. Trawlers aside, the main consumers of fish are sea birds. You’ll see this at once when you get to the Barents Sea. Our feathered friends not only occupy any islands suitable for nesting, but even live side by side with people.

Besides the familiar gulls and cormorants, guillemots and puffins live in the North. Both breed on islands far from the continental shore, but they easily enter into contact with people, especially underwater.

April 1932. 6 days had passed since the train had left Vladivostok. The wheels were rattling rhythmically over the rail joints, but the regular clickety-clack echoed painfully in the heart of Ivan Zaks, an employee of the Pacific Institute of Fisheries.