Economy

The krill fishery in Antarctica has once again been brought to a premature close in 2026. The 620,000-tonne threshold had already been reached in the South Atlantic fishing grounds by 12 August.

New Russian nuclear-powered icebreaker delayed

Russia’s expansion of its nuclear-powered icebreaker fleet is being delayed. The ‘Chukotka’, the next icebreaker in the Project 22220 class, is not due to enter service at the end of 2026 as planned, but not until 2027.

South Korea tests container route through the Arctic

South Korea is entering the race for new shipping routes between Asia and Europe.

Norway continues to rely on oil and gas from the Arctic

Norway intends to continue developing its oil and gas reserves in the Barents Sea – even though the European Union is critical of new fossil fuel projects in the Arctic.

China launches Arctic liner service to Europe

Shipping along the Russian Arctic coast could reach new heights this summer.

Russia is expanding its influence in the Arctic

With the construction of the new nuclear-powered icebreaker ‘Rossiya’, Russia is continuing its ambitious Arctic strategy.

PORT LAWNA: The Failure of a Billion-Dollar Project

New facilities at the Lawna coal transshipment complex in Murmansk have been commissioned as part of the latest expansion phase of the coal terminal.

Milestone for floating nuclear power plants

The Russian state-owned corporation Rosatom has made significant progress in its program for floating nuclear power plants.

Increasing Microplastic Pollution in the Arctic

While the world powers compete for control of the Arctic, a new and unexpected contender has quietly emerged: microplastics.

Krill fishing and bycatch in the Southern Ocean

Krill fishing in the Southern Ocean is tightly managed, but new research shows that bycatch and local fishing pressure remain important concerns.

Cold-adapted microbes and their biotechnological potential

Cold-adapted microbes produce enzymes that function at low temperatures, offering potential applications in industry and biotechnology.

Mine 7 Closure Ends Norwegian Coal Mining in Longyearbyen

The recent closure of Mine 7 marks the end of Norwegian coal mining in Longyearbyen and reflects a broader shift toward new economic activities on Svalbard.

Russia’s LNG Projects Under Sanctions

The Arctic is gaining increasing international importance due to its vast natural resources, especially natural gas.

The Svalbard Treaty: A Brief Overview

The Svalbard Treaty grants Norway sovereignty while ensuring equal access and peaceful use of the Arctic archipelago for all signatory nations.

Russia’s Icebreaker Program under Pressure

Russia, once a global leader in icebreaker construction, is facing a potential strategic setback.

Rising Arctic Shipping Activity

New data from the Arctic Council shows a significant rise in vessel traffic, with nearly double the distance sailed by vessels since 2013.

Warming of the Barents Sea Threatens Fish Stocks

A significant rise in temperatures in the Barents Sea is endangering the spawning grounds and food supply of key fish species.

Waste management in Antarctica (Part 2)

Pamela da Costa

Can waste management practices in Antarctica provide a model of sustainability for extreme environments?

U.S. Coast Guard Orders Five Icebreakers

The American shipbuilder Davie Defense has received a contract from the United States Coast Guard (USCG) for the construction of five Arctic Security Cutters (ASCs).

Waste management in Antarctica (Part 1)

Pamela da Costa

Can waste management practices in Antarctica provide a model of sustainability for extreme environments?

Largest oil field discovered on Yamal in 30 years

In the Arctic zone of the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug, Gazprom Neft has discovered one of the most significant oil fields of the past 30 years.

The search for the fifth Shackleton Medal winner has begun

The search for the fifth recipient of the Shackleton Medal for the Protection of the Polar Regions has begun. The award is presented each year on the birthday of polar explorer Ernest Shackleton and aims to highlight the global importance of these sensitive regions.

Vegetable Farming at the Coldest Place on Earth

More than 200 different plant species have been successfully cultivated over the past five years at the coldest place on Earth.

New UN High Seas Agreement: What Opportunities Does It Offer for the Polar Regions?

Lisa Scherk

On January 17, 2026, the BBNJ Agreement of the United Nations (Agreement on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction) entered into force.

When Will the Dispute Over Greenland Escalate?

For now, the situation still appears calm. It is still considered unlikely that the United States will gain control over Greenland in the near future.

Agreement on Air Traffic Control Signed in Nuuk

Greenland Airports and the Danish state-owned air navigation service provider Naviair have officially signed their agreement on the future provision of air traffic control at Nuuk Airport.

Norway and Russia Agree on Fishing Quotas for the Barents Sea

After record-long and difficult negotiations, Norway and Russia have reached an agreement on fishing quotas for the Barents Sea for the year 2026.

Oil Pipeline Through the Permafrost

With the “Vankor–Payakha–Sever Bay Pipeline,” Russia is pushing ahead with one of the largest energy projects in the High North.

The United States appoints a special envoy for Greenland

Denmark’s Foreign Minister, Lars Løkke Rasmussen, has responded firmly to a new move by Donald Trump that has intensified diplomatic tensions surrounding Greenland.

Putin approves North Pole base and additional Arctic projects by decree

Russia’s President Vladimir Putin ordered by decree on 15 December the construction of a non-permanent ice base at the North Pole.

Data Connection Planned Across the Arctic

With Polar Connect, a groundbreaking initiative is emerging that aims to digitally link Europe and Asia via an entirely new route.

Russia’s Arctic infrastructure is becoming increasingly vulnerable

The destruction of permafrost and extreme weather events could cost the economy billions of dollars.

Russian LNG tankers continue to use Norwegian ports for stopovers

Despite heightened geopolitical tensions and Western sanctions, Norway remains an important stopover point for LNG tankers transporting gas from the Russian Arctic.

Norway Pauses Deep-Sea Mining Plans Until 2029

Lisa Scherk

Norway has decided to halt deep-sea mining plans in Arctic waters until at least 2029. The move was announced on 1 December 2024.

South Korea Is Investing Heavily in Building Arctic-Capable Ships

The South Korean government is pushing its Arctic strategy forward.

Ivittuut – Greenland’s forgotten cryolite capital

On the southwestern edge of Greenland lies the ghost town of Ivittuut. Once a lively settlement due to its global importance in the production of metallic aluminum.

Deep-Sea Mining in the Arctic: Opportunity for the Energy Transition – or Threat to a Fragile Ecosystem?

Lisa Scherk

The Arctic holds mineral resources that are becoming increasingly important for a climate-friendly future. Against this backdrop, Norway faces a decision with far-reaching consequences

Russia withdraws from the Barents Sea Agreement

The Barents Sea faces the threat of an environmental disaster following the potential collapse of the fisheries agreement between Norway and Russia.

New Russian-Chinese Collaboration in the Polar Regions

Russia and China will jointly train specialists for navigation in polar waters, according to a memorandum signed during Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin’s visit to China, the Russian Ministry of Transport announced on its Telegram channel.

Precious metal production in Chukotka continues to grow

Chukotka is a remote region in north-eastern Russia, home to several large gold mines. The region is known for its harsh climate and difficult living conditions.

Rosatom develops new floating power plants

Rosatom has begun developing a new floating nuclear power plant with a capacity of 180 megawatts. This was announced by the deputy director general of the corporation, Andrei Nikipelov. ‘We plan to build a whole series of floating power plants.

Through the Northeast Passage in record time

The Chinese container ship «Istanbul Bridge» has completed the route from China to the United Kingdom via the Arctic in just 20 days.

The Polar Retrospective – A new map, a new vessel, and a new threat for Arctic foxes

Polar Journal AG Team

The Polar Retrospective looks at recent stories from around the world’s polar regions. This week we take a look at a new map of Alexander Island, a new Canadian inuit-owned fishing vessel, and a new viral threat for Arctic foxes on Svalbard.

China's Arctic Paradox: Calling for Caution Amidst Shipping Expansion

Dr. Michael Wenger

While Chinese scientists issue urgent pleas to limit Arctic shipping to protect the region from the environmental impact, Chinese shipping companies plan on sending more and more vessels into the Arctic

Meet Karl Sandgreen, CEO of the Icefjord center, in Ilulissat

Polar Journal AG Team

Ice, fishing, education, municipal elections, Greenlandic independence and the tourist economy are all subjects that cross the mind of the director of the Icefjord Center, a resident of Greenland's third-largest city.

Nunavut, a bright spot in the Arctic's socio-economic doldrums

The economic dynamism of Canada's north did not go unnoticed by Business Index North researchers when they looked at economic development in the Arctic.

Krill - "This year, unfortunately, we did not reach an agreement"

At the 43rd meeting of the CCAMLR Commission, the divergence of vision between environmental conservation and sustainable fishing came face to face to the extent that no agreement was reached on the future of krill fishing. On the one hand, a project for a marine protected area around the Antarctic Peninsula, and on the other, a modernisation and increase in the allocation of fishing quotas. To find out more about this unprecedented event, we spoke to Dr. Javier Arata, executive officer of ARK, the association of companies for responsible krill fishing.

"These companies are destroying the environment and harming the local people in Chukotka"

The Beringovsky mine has been operated since 2016 by an Australian company, which withdrew from the project this summer. The company avoided Western sanctions thanks to a complex set-up of Cyprian and Russian companies, but none of this would have been revealed had the mine not been the scene of an environmental and human disaster. Ilya Shumannov, CEO of Arctida, conducted an extensive investigation. He told us all about it.

The Arctic is getting more light pollution due to increasing industrial activities

Julia Hager

The area affected by oil and gas production and mining in the Arctic is growing every year, as a new study by the University of Zurich shows. In addition to night-time light pollution, industrial activities lead to numerous other problems for nature and the environment.

Ocean Explorer during its grounding last year. The incident demonstrated the dangers of allowing cruise ships to visit highly remote fjords and may ultimately lead to changes in the law. Photo: Air Force / Joint Arctic Command

"In the Arctic, there are no small accidents"