NordStillehavet

NordStillehavet is a Nordic-language designation for the northern portion of the Pacific Ocean. It is not an officially defined region, but is used in scientific, maritime, and cultural contexts to describe subarctic and temperate waters north of the equator, commonly encompassing areas such as the Bering Sea, Gulf of Alaska, Sea of Okhotsk, and adjacent western North Pacific.

Geography and extent: There are no formal boundaries. In practice, sources differ in how far south the NordStillehavet extends; some definitions place its southern edge around 30–40 degrees north, while others focus on subarctic seas north of the central Pacific gyre. The zone includes major coastlines of North America and Asia and several shelf regions and straits.

Oceanography: The region features the interaction of major currents, including the Oyashio and Alaska currents near the subarctic convergence, the Kuroshio extension feeding the North Pacific Gyre, and seasonal sea ice in the northern reaches. Temperature, salinity, and wind patterns vary with latitude and season.

Biodiversity and ecosystems: The NordStillehavet sustains diverse pelagic and coastal ecosystems, with species such as salmon, pollock, cod, herring, and tuna in varying parts of the zone. It supports important breeding grounds for seabirds and marine mammals and hosts extensive commercial and subsistence fisheries.

Human use and governance: The region underpins substantial commercial fishing, shipping routes, and some offshore energy activities. Management is distributed across national jurisdictions and international agreements, including stock conservation measures, environmental protections, and navigation safety guidelines.