The survey was a joint SI_ARCTIC and Barents Sea Ecosystem survey. The main goal of the survey was thus twofold:
1. Conduct baseline studies/process studies of the Arctic Ocean ecosystem (oceanography, nutrients, phytoplankton, zooplankton, fish, benthos, marine mammals and birds). (SI_ARCTIC – exploratory focus).
2. Conduct the northern part of the joint IMR-PINRO Barents Sea Ecosystem survey. (The Barents Sea Ecosystem survey – annual monitoring focus).