ARCTIC WATERS

"These sharks are some of the most fascinating species of sharks on the planet and truly display the rich biodiversity of shark species." - UNKNOWN

CHONDRICHTHYANS OF THE COLD

Did you know there are several species of sharks, skates, and rays that have adapted to live in icy cold waters?
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Here, the temperature does not rise above 5° C (41° F) and many of these predators live under the ice floes preying on fish and some even feast on  fatty seals and even moose (true story).  Sharks who are endothermic (the ability to maintain their body temperature a few degrees higher than their environment)  can withstand these very cold waters, even as far North as the Arctic Circle (such as the Greenland shark).

Photo: NOAA Okeanos Explorer Program [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Photo: Alaska Shark Diving

Photo: Public domain

what sharks call arctic waters home?

You mainly see big sharks here: think the Basking shark, Pacific sleeper shark, Greenland shark, and the Bluntnose sixgill shark. Smaller mackerel sharks, like the Porbeagle and Salmon sharks, can also be found here, as well as the migratory blue sharks and spiny dogfish.


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what advantages does living in cold water bring?​

The cold Arctic waters are no picnic... except when they are. Due to the cold environment, fatty, nutrient dense sea life is abundant in this area. 
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how do sharks survive these frigid waters?

Good question - it's a superpower we are still learning more about! We've uncovered some neat stuff- a study in 2005 uncovered that salmon sharks have an enhanced set of proteins that help their hearts contract at cold temperatures.

and not all sharks can survive the cold...

Early in 2018, sharks were literally freezing to death in the USA (it made the news). Not all sharks come equipped with the unusual biological adaptations that are required to survive the harsh environment of the Arctic waters. 

BUT THE ARCTIC ISN'T SAFE. IT FACES THREATS...

OIL exploration

The Arctic holds some of the world’s largest undeveloped oil reserves. Exploring for oil and gas in this region, whether on land or in the ocean, is challenging. Unpredictable weather, harsh sea swells, and more increase the risk of a spill in this fragile ecosystem. There is no oil spill cleanup technologies for spills in Arctic sea ice that are proven to work.

CLIMATE CHANGE

The “albedo effect” is currently happening in the Arctic - that's when the dark seawater absorbs the sunlight, warms the ocean and accelerates melting of the ice. These warming waters are changing the range and seasonal cycles of Arctic fisheries. Some fish are moving to deeper, cooler waters.