· Rich Coastal Waters
· Special Features
· Did You Know?
· Wild Side
· Cause for Concern
· Looking Ahead

Global 200 Snapshot

The Northeast Atlantic Shelf is one of the most diverse and productive upwelling areas in the North Atlantic.  

Rich Coastal Waters

Puffins, whales, sharks, seals, and many other birds, marine mammals, and fish help to create a diverse and productive ecosystem here.

Special Features

The Northeast Atlantic Shelf consists of many different marine environments. The North Sea is quite shallow and fed by several rivers, while the Norwegian Sea has deep trenches filled by particularly salty ocean water. In upwelling areas, nutrient-rich water rises to the surface and provides the basis for many fish communities. These ocean currents make the seas quite rough and often contribute to strong storms.

	The narwhal, while smaller than most other whales, has a tooth that can grow into a spiral tusk almost 9 feet (3 m) long. During the Middle Ages, the narwhal's tusk may have inspired tales of unicorns.

Wild Side

Gray and harbor seals live along the rocky coastlines, where they are often joined by Atlantic puffins and Arctic terns. Arctic cod, char, and capelin are just a few of the species that make the Northeast Atlantic Shelf such a rich fishing area. Several types of whales also call it home, including minkes, orcas, belugas, narwhals, bowheads, northern bottlenoses, and blues.

Cause for Concern

The greatest threats to the ecoregion are overfishing and pollution. Four major fishing countries (United Kingdom, Netherlands, Norway, and Denmark) use the fisheries of this area. Pollution comes from many sources including the fishing and shipping industry and petroleum extraction.

Looking Ahead

Check back soon for more about the conservation of this ecoregion.