Fram Centre

Meltdown of the Arctic Ocean: Dead end or new opportunities?

The Arctic Ocean is changing towards a warmer, ice-free state in summer. Warm Atlantic water continuously carries plankton organisms from south to north. Boreal species usually perish in the cold, dark Arctic Ocean but that may change as climate warms, sea ice shrinks, and the primary production season lengthens.
October 05, 2022

The kittiwake needs support to survive

The black-legged kittiwake is in danger of going extinct from the bird cliffs along the Norwegian coast. Could urban kittiwake hotels and alternative nesting sites help save this little seagull?
September 14, 2022

Can we convince tourists to go hiking without leaving any traces?

A growing number of people are visiting Norway’s protected areas. This poses new challenges for national park management. Excrement and rubbish left behind by thousands of tourists degrades Lofotodden National Park’s idyllic nature. What can be done about this problem?
July 05, 2022

The benefits of subarctic kelp cultivation

I am out walking with my children along a windy, desolate sub-Arctic beach. Seagulls fly high above. We take in the distinct sound and scent of the sea. Suddenly my youngest child hunkers down, then pops up again with a big grin, his mouth full of rockweed. He loves seaweed, and so does his big sister.
June 15, 2022

Astounding discoveries

Space radars allow researchers to spot some of the smallest things in existence – electrons – up to a thousand kilometres away! Now an even more advanced radar antenna facility is being constructed, which will offer unprecedented opportunities.
June 02, 2022

Kongsfjorden’s Wingman

Kongsfjorden. Our story begins there and it will end there, but Geir Wing Gabrielsen may never be finished with the fjord. Although he has probably spent more seasons doing fieldwork there than anyone else, he still has projects lined up.
May 04, 2022

The red king crab: a blacklisted but valuable fisheries resource

With climate change come changes in species distribution. Here in the High North, we expect to see many marine species move northwards. In addition, humans sometimes move species for commercial purposes with varying outcomes. One such species in the red king crab.
April 20, 2022

ArcticInfo ‒ A digital service for safer seaborne voyages in the Arctic

ArcticInfo provides important information on sailing conditions in the Arctic, supporting decisions for safer navigation in Arctic waters. Map-based and accessible to all, ArcticInfo covers large areas off the coasts of Norway, Iceland, Russia, Canada, and Greenland, plus the Barents and North Seas.
April 05, 2022

Ecological effects of Pacific pink salmon in a river system in Finnmark

Pacific pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) were introduced in the Kola Peninsula for their valuable eggs in the 1950s. Since then, the species has spread along the entire Norwegian coast and will probably remain. Scientists from several countries are trying to understand its ecological effects.
March 29, 2022

Dsolve: working to prevent plastic litter in the marine environment

Plastic waste is high on the environmental agenda. Unfortunately, much of the marine litter in Norwegian waters originates from the fishing and aquaculture industries. Researchers are now working with these and other industries to find ways to eliminate or reduce the problems plastics cause.
March 23, 2022

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