Wildlife Expeditions

Wildlife of
North Atlantic Ocean

Northern Atlantic waters including the Gulf Stream and major fishing grounds

318 Species

~41 million km² Area

8,376 m Max Depth

Wildlife of North Atlantic Ocean

Crab

Sideways masters of every shore

Tropicbird

Streamers of the tropical seas

Cookiecutter Shark

The deep-sea donut-cutter

Humpback Whale

Big flippers. Bigger journeys.

Frilled Shark

The deep-sea shark that looks like a sea serpent

Cockle

Ribbed hearts of the tidal flats

Snook Fish

Linesiders of the tides

Fangtooth

Small fish. Huge fangs. Deep sea.

Sea Spider

All legs, no land-meet Pycnogonida

Great White Shark

Warm-blooded hunter of the seas

See all 318 animals in North Atlantic Ocean ↓

Overview

Understanding This Category

The North Atlantic Ocean is the northern portion of the Atlantic Ocean extending roughly from the equator to the Arctic Ocean, bounded by North America to the west and Europe and northwest Africa to the east, and encompassing key basins and current systems that link tropical, temperate, and subpolar waters.

The North Atlantic is one of Earth's most intensively studied and economically important ocean regions, forming the watery bridge between the Americas and Europe-Africa. Its surface circulation is dominated by the Gulf Stream and its continuation, the North Atlantic Drift, which transport heat and salt northeastward and help moderate climates-most notably across western and northern Europe-while also shaping fog, storm tracks, and seasonal sea-ice patterns at higher latitudes.

Ecologically, the region spans warm subtropical gyres to cold subpolar and Arctic-influenced seas, producing strong gradients in temperature, salinity, and nutrients. These gradients, combined with energetic fronts, shelf seas, and episodic deep winter mixing, support high primary productivity and rich food webs, including major fisheries (e.g., cod, haddock, herring, mackerel) and migratory megafauna such as whales, seabirds, and sea turtles. The North Atlantic also plays a central role in the global carbon cycle and climate system through deep-water formation and the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation, while facing pressures from warming, acidification, deoxygenation, and intense maritime use.

Etymology: 'Atlantic' comes from Greek and is commonly glossed in English as 'Sea of Atlas,' referring to Atlas in Greek mythology (and associated by some traditions with the Atlas Mountains); 'North Atlantic' denotes the northern part of the Atlantic Ocean.

Key Characteristics

Spans latitudes from the equator to the Arctic, connecting tropical, temperate, and subpolar marine environments

Dominated by major current systems including the Gulf Stream and North Atlantic Drift, plus the subpolar gyre and boundary currents

Key region for deep-water formation and the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation, influencing global climate and carbon storage

High productivity in many areas due to mixing, upwelling, shelf-sea dynamics, and frontal zones, supporting major fisheries

Strong seasonal and regional contrasts in temperature, salinity, storms, and sea-ice influence, especially toward Greenland, Iceland, and the Labrador Sea

At a Glance

Quick Facts

Type Sub_ocean

Area ~41 million km²

Max Depth 8,376 m (Milwaukee Deep, Puerto Rico Trench)

Temperature ~−2 to 28°C (surface; strong seasonal/latitudinal range)

Salinity ~35-37 ppt

Bordering Countries 30+ countries on 3 continents (North America, Europe, NW Africa)

Gulf Stream & North Atlantic Drift, rich fisheries, major transatlantic shipping routes, hurricane development region

Physical Features

Geography

The North Atlantic Ocean is the northern sub-region of the Atlantic Ocean, lying primarily between North America to the west and Europe and northwest Africa to the east. It extends from the equatorial Atlantic northward through temperate waters into subpolar regions toward the Arctic gateways near Greenland, Iceland, and Norway, and includes major current systems such as the Gulf Stream and North Atlantic Drift.

41.5 million km² Area

~3,600 m Average Depth

~8,376 m Max Depth

Milwaukee Deep, Puerto Rico Trench (~8,376 m)

Major Features

Mid-Atlantic Ridge (spreading center running roughly north-south through the basin)
Charlie-Gibbs Fracture Zone (major transform/offset on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge)
Puerto Rico Trench (deepest point in the Atlantic; includes Milwaukee Deep)
Greenland-Scotland Ridge (sill system controlling Arctic-Atlantic deep-water exchange)
Labrador Basin and Labrador Sea (deep convection region important to AMOC/NADW formation)
Iceland Basin and Irminger Basin (subpolar basins central to overturning circulation)
Rockall Trough and Rockall Plateau (NE Atlantic deep trough/plateau complex)
Azores Plateau (volcanic plateau on/near the Mid-Atlantic Ridge)
Bermuda Rise (broad rise in the western North Atlantic)
Grand Banks of Newfoundland (major shallow shelf/fishing grounds)
Blake Plateau and Blake Escarpment (western boundary plateau and steep slope feature)

Islands

Greenland
Iceland
Faroe Islands
British Isles (Great Britain and Ireland)
Newfoundland
Bermuda
Azores
Madeira
Canary Islands
Cape Verde
Shetland Islands
Orkney Islands

Coastline Countries

Canada

Atlantic coastline including Labrador and the Maritime provinces; borders the Labrador Sea and Northwest Atlantic shelves

United States

Atlantic seaboard from Maine to Florida; includes major shelf systems and the Gulf Stream region

Mexico

Atlantic drainage via the Gulf of Mexico (a marginal sea connected to the North Atlantic)

Bahamas

Island nation on the western boundary of the North Atlantic near the Florida Straits and Bahamas platforms

Cuba

Northern Caribbean island bordering passages connecting the Caribbean Sea to the North Atlantic

Bermuda

UK overseas territory in the western North Atlantic near the Sargasso Sea/gyre region

Greenland Denmark

Greenland's east and south coasts front the North Atlantic and key Arctic-Atlantic exchange corridors

Iceland

Straddles the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and the subpolar North Atlantic circulation

Norway

Norwegian Sea/North Sea coasts connected to the North Atlantic and major warm-water inflows

United Kingdom

Borders the North Atlantic (west of Scotland) and the North Sea (a connected marginal sea)

Ireland

Western European island nation directly facing the open North Atlantic

France

Bay of Biscay and English Channel coasts connected to the North Atlantic

Spain

Cantabrian and Atlantic Iberian coasts; gateway region toward the Strait of Gibraltar

Portugal

Atlantic-facing Iberian coast; includes the Azores (mid-ocean) and Madeira archipelagos

Morocco

Northwest African Atlantic coast; includes waters near the Canary Current system

Western Sahara

Atlantic coastline along northwest Africa adjacent to upwelling-influenced waters

Mauritania

Atlantic coast influenced by major coastal upwelling and productive fisheries

Senegal

Atlantic coast at the northeastern tropical Atlantic margin

Gambia

Short Atlantic frontage at the mouth of the Gambia River

Guinea Bissau

Atlantic coast with extensive estuaries and shelf waters

Guinea

Atlantic coast on the Gulf of Guinea margin (north of the equator)

Sierra Leone

Atlantic coast on the eastern tropical North Atlantic

Liberia

Atlantic coast on the eastern tropical North Atlantic

Cote Divoire

Atlantic coast on the Gulf of Guinea margin (north of the equator)

Ghana

Atlantic coast on the Gulf of Guinea margin (north of the equator)

Togo

Narrow Atlantic coastline on the Gulf of Guinea margin

Benin

Atlantic coastline on the Gulf of Guinea margin

Nigeria

Atlantic coastline along the Bight of Benin/Bight of Bonny (Gulf of Guinea)

Cape Verde

Island nation in the eastern North Atlantic off West Africa

Sao Tome And Principe

Island nation in the Gulf of Guinea near the equatorial boundary of the North Atlantic

Connected Waters

Atlantic Ocean — Sub-basin relationship: the North Atlantic is the northern subdivision of the Atlantic Ocean
South Atlantic — Latitudinal transition across the equatorial Atlantic (generally near 0°)
Arctic Ocean — Connected via Nordic seas and Arctic gateways (Greenland-Iceland-Norway region and Fram Strait pathways)
Mediterranean Sea — Connected through the Strait of Gibraltar (Mediterranean Outflow influences North Atlantic water masses)
Caribbean Sea — Connected via passages through the Antilles and the Florida Straits; feeds the Gulf Stream system
Gulf Of Mexico — Connected via the Florida Straits and Yucatán Channel system; major source region for Gulf Stream waters
North Sea — Connected via the English Channel and northern passages; strong shelf-sea exchange with the NE Atlantic
Baltic Sea — Connected via the Danish Straits and North Sea; brackish outflow affects nearby NE Atlantic waters
North Pacific — Indirect connection through the Arctic Ocean and Bering Strait pathway (basin-scale exchange over long distances)

Boundaries

Bounded to the west by the eastern coasts of Canada, the United States, and the northern Gulf/Caribbean rim; to the east by the Atlantic coasts of Europe (from Iberia through the British Isles to Scandinavia) and northwest Africa (from Morocco to the Gulf of Guinea north of the equator). It transitions southward into the South Atlantic across the equatorial Atlantic and connects northward to the Arctic Ocean via the Greenland-Iceland-Norway (GIN) seas and Fram Strait/Barents-Norwegian Sea pathways. It connects to the Mediterranean Sea through the Strait of Gibraltar and to the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico through island passages and the Florida Straits.

Physical Characteristics

Oceanography

Temperature Range ~ -1.8 to 30 °C (subpolar/Arctic margins near freezing to tropical/equatorial margins near 30 °C)

Surface avg: ~12-16 °C (basin-wide mean; varies strongly with latitude and proximity to western boundary currents)

Deep avg: ~2-4 °C (typical deep North Atlantic; colder in overflow waters, slightly warmer at mid-depths in subtropics)

Salinity Moderate to high overall; highest in subtropical gyre

Typical open-ocean surface salinity ~34.5-37 PSU. Subtropical gyre commonly ~36-37 PSU due to high evaporation; subpolar regions lower (~34-35 PSU) from precipitation, river input, and ice melt. Deep waters generally ~34.8-35.0 PSU with distinct signatures from NADW and overflow sources.

Seasonal Variation

Strong seasonality north of ~35-40°N: winter cooling and deep mixing; summer surface warming and stratification. Subpolar regions typically ~2-8 °C in winter and ~6-15 °C in summer; temperate western boundary regions can exceed ~20-26 °C in summer.

Currents

Major systems include: Gulf Stream (western boundary current) transitioning to the North Atlantic Current/Drift toward Europe; Subtropical Gyre circulation (including the Azores Current and Canary Current eastern boundary flow); Subpolar Gyre (Labrador Current, East Greenland Current, Irminger Current); Norwegian Atlantic Current into the Nordic Seas; and the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) with northward upper-ocean flow and southward deep return (NADW).

Tides

Generally semidiurnal (M2-dominated) across much of the basin with strong regional amplification on continental shelves and in resonant basins. Largest ranges occur in the NW Atlantic (e.g., Bay of Fundy/Gulf of Maine) and parts of the European shelf/North Sea; smaller ranges in the deep ocean and many subtropical open-ocean areas. Strong tidal currents and internal tides common along shelf breaks and mid-ocean ridges.

Water Masses

Key water masses include North Atlantic Deep Water (NADW; relatively cold, oxygen-rich, ~2-4 °C, ~34.9-35 PSU) formed from high-latitude convection and overflow; Labrador Sea Water (intermediate, ventilated, high oxygen); Mediterranean Outflow Water (warm, saline intermediate water spreading westward at ~800-1200 m); Subtropical Mode Water/18°C Water in the western subtropical gyre; and dense overflow waters from the Nordic Seas via the Denmark Strait and Faroe Bank Channel feeding the deep limb of AMOC.

Stratification

Strong vertical stratification in subtropical/tropical regions with a pronounced thermocline and halocline; weaker stratification and deeper winter mixed layers in temperate/subpolar regions. Wintertime convection and mixing are prominent in the Labrador and Irminger Seas, while summer stratification strengthens widely due to surface heating and freshwater inputs. Internal waves and mesoscale eddies contribute to intermittent layering and mixing, especially near fronts (Gulf Stream/North Atlantic Current) and shelf breaks.

Upwelling

Notable nutrient upwelling and high productivity occur along the eastern boundary near NW Africa (Canary Current upwelling system), seasonally along parts of Iberia, and locally along shelf breaks and banks (e.g., Grand Banks, Georges Bank) where tidal mixing and slope processes lift nutrients. Additional nutrient supply arises from winter mixing and convective overturning in subpolar regions, and from eddy-driven upwelling/downwelling along the Gulf Stream and North Atlantic Current fronts.

Unique Conditions

Frequent strong mesoscale variability (Gulf Stream meanders, warm/cold-core rings) that redistributes heat, salt, and nutrients; intense air-sea coupling and storm forcing with large winter heat loss at high latitudes; episodic deep convection events affecting ventilation and carbon uptake; freshwater anomalies and sea-ice influence in subpolar/Arctic-adjacent areas (e.g., Greenland melt, Arctic outflows) that can modulate stratification and AMOC strength; and prominent frontal zones (subtropical/subpolar front) that structure ecosystems and biogeography.

Weather & Conditions

Climate

The North Atlantic Ocean spans tropical to Arctic latitudes, producing strong gradients in sea-surface temperature, salinity, and weather. Climate is dominated by the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation and major currents: the warm Gulf Stream/North Atlantic Drift moderates conditions across the western and especially eastern basin, while the cold Labrador and East Greenland Currents cool the northwest and subpolar regions. Persistent westerlies and frequent frontal systems drive highly variable conditions, with energetic mixing and high productivity in temperate-to-subpolar waters (notably along shelf seas and subpolar fronts).

Seasons

Winter (Dec-Mar): Strongest westerlies and largest air-sea temperature contrasts; frequent extratropical cyclones, high seas, and deep ocean mixed layers in mid-to-high latitudes; cold conditions and enhanced convection in subpolar regions. Spring (Apr-May): Increasing stratification as surface waters warm; onset of major phytoplankton blooms in temperate/subpolar waters; storminess gradually decreases. Summer (Jun-Aug): Warmest SSTs in tropics/subtropics; more stable stratification and generally lighter winds in many areas, though fog can be common where warm air overlies cold currents (e.g., Grand Banks/Labrador Current). Fall (Sep-Nov): Re-intensifying winds and storms; surface cooling increases mixing; secondary blooms can occur; peak warm-water extent supports tropical cyclone development and northward recurvature.

Storm Activity

Tropical cyclones (hurricanes) form mainly from June to November, peaking August-October in the tropical and subtropical North Atlantic (including the Main Development Region off West Africa). Many track westward then recurve poleward and eastward into the open Atlantic; some affect the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, U.S./Canada Atlantic coasts, and occasionally western Europe as transitioning/post-tropical systems. Extratropical cyclones occur year-round but are most frequent and intense from late fall through spring along the North Atlantic storm track (U.S. East Coast to Iceland/Norwegian Sea), producing strong winds, large swell, and rapid weather changes.

Ice Conditions

Sea ice is seasonal and primarily confined to the Arctic/subarctic margins: the Greenland Sea, Fram Strait vicinity, Denmark Strait, and parts of the Labrador Sea and waters around Greenland and Newfoundland. Winter-early spring typically sees maximum extent with drifting pack ice and occasional southward export via the East Greenland Current; summer-early fall brings minimum extent and retreat toward higher latitudes, though icebergs can persist into warmer months in the northwest due to glacial calving and cold currents. Mid-latitude and tropical North Atlantic waters are generally ice-free year-round.

Ecology

Marine Life

The North Atlantic Ocean spans tropical-to-Arctic latitudes and is strongly structured by major currents (notably the Gulf Stream and North Atlantic Drift) that transport heat, nutrients, and organisms across the basin. Its ecology is characterized by highly productive temperate and subpolar shelves (supporting major fisheries), strong seasonal blooms of phytoplankton, extensive continental-slope and abyssal deep-sea habitats, and distinctive features such as the Sargasso Sea in the subtropical gyre and hydrothermal systems along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Productivity and community composition vary sharply with latitude, water-mass boundaries, and mixing/upwelling on shelves and banks.

Variable Biodiversity

Species richness is generally moderate compared with tropical oceans but can be very high locally where currents, fronts, and complex seafloor topography concentrate nutrients and life (e.g., continental shelves, banks, canyons, seamounts, and frontal zones). The basin supports diverse plankton communities that drive large seasonal food webs, extensive benthic diversity in deep-sea sediments, and regionally important assemblages of seabirds, marine mammals, and commercially important fishes and invertebrates.

Species count: Estimated ≥25,000 described marine species across the North Atlantic basin (from microbes to megafauna), with many additional deep-sea and microbial taxa likely undescribed; local shelf regions can host thousands of species, while basin-scale totals rise into the tens of thousands.

Ecosystems

Temperate and subpolar continental shelf seas (banks, shoals, and shelf-break fronts)
Open-ocean pelagic ecosystems (subtropical gyre, subpolar gyre, and frontal zones)
Sargasso Sea floating Sargassum habitat
Kelp forests and rocky-reef coastal systems (especially NE and NW Atlantic temperate coasts)
Estuaries, tidal flats, salt marshes, and coastal lagoons
Cold-water coral reefs and coral gardens (e.g., along shelf edges, canyons, and seamounts)
Submarine canyons and seamount ecosystems (enhanced mixing, feeding aggregations)
Deep-sea abyssal plains and continental slope benthic communities (soft sediments, sponge fields)
Hydrothermal vents and chemosynthetic communities on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge
Arctic marginal ice zone and seasonal sea-ice ecosystems (northward sector)

Endemic Species

North Atlantic right whale (Eubalaena glacialis)
Atlantic puffin (Fratercula arctica)
Northern gannet (Morus bassanus)
Sowerby's beaked whale (Mesoplodon bidens)
Atlantic halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus)
Great auk (Pinguinus impennis) - extinct

Habitats

Ecological Zones

Neritic Zone

The North Atlantic neritic zone spans the continental shelves and nearshore waters from the subtropics to the Arctic, including highly productive shelf seas such as the North Sea, Irish Sea, Grand Banks, Georges Bank, Labrador Shelf, and the shelves off Iberia and northwest Africa. Strong tidal mixing, wind-driven upwelling (notably along northwest Africa), and seasonal stratification create recurrent plankton blooms that fuel major fisheries. River inputs and coastal wetlands/estuaries add nutrients and detritus, while temperature gradients shaped by the Gulf Stream and colder Labrador/East Greenland currents produce sharp fronts that aggregate plankton and forage fish. Habitats include kelp forests and rocky reefs in cooler regions, sandy and gravel banks, and shallow seagrass/estuarine systems where salinity and turbidity vary widely.

Pelagic Zone

The North Atlantic pelagic zone covers the open-ocean water column from the surface mixed layer through the mesopelagic "twilight zone" and into the deep ocean. Its ecology is structured by basin-scale circulation (Gulf Stream, North Atlantic Drift, subpolar gyre) and by persistent fronts and eddies that concentrate nutrients and prey. Seasonal light and mixing drive spring blooms across temperate and subpolar waters, while oligotrophic subtropical gyre waters rely more on recycling and episodic eddy-driven nutrient injections. In the mesopelagic, diel vertical migration of zooplankton and lanternfish moves carbon and energy between surface production and deep predators, and deep pelagic communities depend on sinking marine snow, carcasses ("whale falls"), and sporadic particle flux pulses.

Benthic Zone

The benthic zone of the North Atlantic includes the continental shelf seabed, slopes, abyssal plains, and specialized deep-sea features such as submarine canyons, seamounts, and mid-ocean ridge segments. Shelf and slope bottoms host diverse infaunal and epifaunal communities (polychaetes, bivalves, echinoderms, crustaceans) that process organic matter from surface blooms and coastal detritus; sediment type (mud, sand, gravel), oxygen, and bottom temperature strongly shape community structure. Deeper habitats have slower growth and lower productivity but high specialization, including cold-water coral reefs (e.g., Lophelia pertusa) on slopes and seamounts that create complex three-dimensional habitat for fish and invertebrates. In the abyss, food limitation favors scavengers and deposit feeders, and benthic-pelagic coupling varies with the strength of seasonal particle export from overlying waters.

Demersal Zone

The demersal zone comprises the near-bottom waters over shelves and slopes where currents, turbidity, and benthic habitat complexity influence predator-prey interactions. It supports many commercially important groundfish and invertebrates (e.g., cod, haddock, saithe, pollock, hake, flatfishes, redfish, skates, deepwater sharks, and benthic crustaceans) that feed on benthic invertebrates, demersal forage fish, and pelagic prey concentrated near fronts and banks. Banks and shelf breaks act as feeding hotspots, while submarine canyons and coral mounds provide refugia and nursery areas. Demersal communities are tightly linked to benthic productivity (infauna/epifauna) and to episodic delivery of pelagic biomass to the bottom (post-bloom fallout, fish kills, discarded carcasses), making them sensitive to changes in stratification, oxygen, and fishing pressure.

Migratory Season

Notable migrations in the North Atlantic are strongly seasonal and often follow temperature bands, prey blooms, and current pathways. Baleen whales (e.g., humpback, fin, minke, and North Atlantic right whales) generally migrate from low-latitude wintering/breeding areas to higher-latitude summer feeding grounds (Gulf of Maine, Newfoundland/Labrador, Iceland-Norwegian waters, and the Barents gateway). Atlantic salmon and sea trout migrate between rivers and offshore feeding areas, while eels undertake trans-Atlantic spawning migrations to the Sargasso Sea. Large pelagic fish (bluefin tuna, swordfish, some sharks) track warm currents and prey into temperate latitudes in spring-summer and retreat southward in autumn. Seabirds (auks, shearwaters, gannets, gulls, and terns) shift between breeding colonies on North Atlantic coasts/islands and offshore wintering areas, often concentrating along productive fronts. Many zooplankton and mesopelagic fish also exhibit daily vertical migrations that are a major, basin-wide movement of biomass.

Key Food Webs

Key North Atlantic food webs are built on (1) phytoplankton-driven production in spring and early summer and (2) detrital pathways that transfer bloom material to the seafloor. In temperate-subpolar waters, diatoms and other phytoplankton are grazed by copepods (e.g., Calanus spp.) and krill, which in turn support forage fish (herring, mackerel, capelin, sand eels) and higher predators (cod and other groundfish, tuna, seabirds, and baleen whales). Shelf systems often feature a strong "forage fish bridge," where energy moves efficiently from plankton to mid-trophic schooling fish and then to marine mammals and birds. Benthic-demersal chains are prominent on shelves: phytodetritus and benthic microalgae support worms, bivalves, and crustaceans, which feed flatfish, cod/haddock, skates, and benthic-feeding mammals; scavengers recycle carcasses and discards. In oligotrophic gyre regions, microbial loops (bacteria-protists) recycle nutrients and route energy to small zooplankton and micronekton, ultimately supporting pelagic predators but with lower transfer efficiency. Deep-sea food webs rely on sinking particles and episodic inputs (marine snow pulses, carrion), sustaining deposit feeders and scavengers that are prey for deep demersal fishes and cephalopods.

Species

Iconic Marine Life

Atlantic cod A signature cold-temperate fish of the North Atlantic shelves (Grand Banks, North Sea, Icelandic waters), historically central to regional ecosystems and fisheries and closely tied to the zone's highly productive current-driven food webs.

Humpback whale A well-known migratory baleen whale that feeds in the North Atlantic's rich summer waters (from New England and Greenland to Norway) where Gulf Stream-subpolar mixing concentrates prey like krill and small schooling fish.

North Atlantic right whale One of the most emblematic and imperiled whales of the region, strongly associated with the western North Atlantic where seasonal plankton blooms and copepod concentrations create key feeding habitats.

Atlantic puffin An iconic seabird of North Atlantic islands and coasts (Iceland, Faroe, Scotland, Newfoundland), tightly linked to the productivity of cold currents that support the small forage fish it depends on.

Harbor seal A familiar coastal pinniped found across both eastern and western North Atlantic shorelines, representing the region's temperate-to-subpolar nearshore ecosystems and estuaries influenced by strong tides and currents.

Great white shark A top predator increasingly documented in the northwest North Atlantic (e.g., off New England and Atlantic Canada), reflecting the region's abundant marine mammal and fish prey supported by productive continental shelf waters.

Bluefin tuna (Atlantic) A flagship highly migratory predator that uses North Atlantic current systems and temperature fronts (including the Gulf Stream) to track dense prey, symbolizing the basin's dynamic, highly connected ecosystems.

Protection

Conservation

The North Atlantic Ocean supports some of the world's most productive temperate-to-subpolar marine ecosystems, shaped by the Gulf Stream and North Atlantic Drift. Conservation status is mixed: several fish stocks have rebuilt under modern management, but many habitats and species remain under significant pressure from climate-driven ocean change, legacy and ongoing overfishing, heavy shipping and industrial use, and chronic pollution (including plastics and chemical contaminants). Biodiversity hotspots on continental shelves, seamounts, and deep-sea coral/sponge grounds are vulnerable to bottom-contact fishing, seabed disturbance, and warming-driven shifts in species distributions.

Status

moderate

Declining Current Trend

Threats

Warming, marine heatwaves, changing stratification, and shifts/weakening variability in major current systems alter productivity and species ranges; ocean acidification and deoxygenation threaten calcifiers and deep-sea ecosystems. Rapid shifts are evident in plankton communities and poleward movement of many fish and invertebrates.

While some stocks have recovered, pressures persist from mixed-stock fisheries, bycatch, IUU fishing in some areas, and historically depleted populations (e.g., some groundfish and large pelagics). Bottom trawling impacts benthic habitats and can slow recovery of long-lived deep-sea corals/sponges.

Chronic inputs of plastics/microplastics, persistent organic pollutants and heavy metals, oil and chemical spills, nutrient enrichment and episodic hypoxia in coastal seas, plus underwater noise from shipping and industry. Contaminants bioaccumulate in top predators and affect seabirds and marine mammals.

Degradation of coastal and shelf habitats (saltmarshes, seagrass, kelp forests), damage to seabed features from bottom-contact gear, and disturbance to deep-sea habitats (canyons, seamounts, coral and sponge grounds). Coastal development and shoreline hardening reduce nursery and foraging areas.

High vessel traffic elevates ship strikes (notably for large whales), chronic underwater noise, and disturbance from tourism and offshore industrial activity. Entanglement risk from fishing gear and marine debris remains significant for whales, seals, and turtles.

Expansion of offshore wind, subsea cables, and other marine infrastructure increases localized habitat disturbance and noise; benefits are possible with careful siting, but cumulative impacts and sensitive-area conflicts are key risks.

Warming waters can increase pathogen prevalence and harmful algal blooms, affecting shellfish, fish, and marine mammals; disease interacts with other stressors (nutrition, contaminants).

Non-native species introduced via ballast water, hull fouling, and aquaculture can alter food webs and outcompete natives, especially in coastal and estuarine systems; warming improves establishment success for some invaders.

Environmental Issues

Pollution

High shipping density and coastal population centers contribute to marine litter (including microplastics), oil/chemical contamination, and legacy pollutants (PCBs, mercury) in some regions; nutrient runoff drives eutrophication and harmful algal blooms in enclosed/semi-enclosed seas and estuaries; underwater noise is a pervasive, basin-wide stressor.

Overfishing

Overall management capacity is relatively strong in much of the region, with rebuilding of several target stocks; however, some stocks remain overfished or vulnerable, bycatch of non-target species persists, and bottom trawling continues to affect benthic habitats and slows recovery of sensitive deep-sea communities.

ClimateImpacts

Warming and marine heatwaves shift distributions poleward and change timing of blooms; acidification reduces carbonate availability affecting shell-forming organisms and deep-sea corals; expanding low-oxygen zones and altered circulation patterns can reduce habitat suitability and disrupt fisheries productivity.

InvasiveSpecies

Coastal invasions are driven by ballast water and hull fouling (and some aquaculture pathways), with notable pressures in ports, estuaries, and warming shelf seas; invasives can modify habitats, compete with native species, and change food-web dynamics.

Protected Areas

Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument (USA)
Northeast U.S. National Marine Sanctuaries (e.g., Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary)
Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary (Gulf of Mexico; connected Atlantic basin context for migratory species)
OSPAR Marine Protected Areas network (Northeast Atlantic)
UK Marine Protected Area network (including SACs/MPAs in UK waters)
Natura 2000 marine sites (EU)
Azores Marine Protected Areas (Portugal)
Madeira Marine Protected Areas (Portugal)
Gully Marine Protected Area (Canada)
Sable Island National Park Reserve (marine component, Canada)
Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park (Canada; relevant for North Atlantic migratory species)

International Agreements

OSPAR Convention (Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic)
UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea)
MARPOL (International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships)
London Convention & London Protocol (dumping at sea)
Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) - marine biodiversity targets
CITES (trade controls relevant to marine species)
CMS (Convention on Migratory Species) and related regional instruments
ICCAT (International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas)
NAFO (Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization)
NEAFC (North-East Atlantic Fisheries Commission)
IMO Ballast Water Management Convention
Polar Code (IMO; relevant to Arctic-adjacent North Atlantic shipping)

Conservation Priorities

Accelerate climate adaptation: protect climate refugia, reduce non-climate stressors, and incorporate shifting species ranges into management
Expand and effectively manage MPAs, prioritizing deep-sea coral/sponge grounds, seamounts, canyons, and key spawning/nursery areas; ensure enforcement and connectivity
Strengthen fisheries management: ecosystem-based approaches, precautionary harvest control rules, bycatch reduction, and tighter limits on bottom-contact fishing in vulnerable habitats
Reduce ship strikes and underwater noise via routing, speed management, seasonal measures, and quieter vessel standards in whale hotspots
Cut pollution at source: plastic reduction, improved waste management, tighter controls on hazardous chemicals, and nutrient runoff reduction to curb eutrophication/HABs
Prevent and manage invasive species: ballast/hull controls, rapid detection/response in ports and estuaries, and biosecurity for aquaculture
Improve monitoring and data sharing: basin-scale observing systems (temperature, oxygen, pH), bycatch/entanglement reporting, and standardized biodiversity surveys including eDNA
Plan offshore infrastructure with robust cumulative-impact assessments, sensitive-area avoidance, and mitigation/offsets where appropriate

Notable Places

Famous Locations

Bermuda (Bermuda Platform & Reefs)

Island

A mid-ocean island group perched on a volcanic seamount, surrounded by extensive carbonate platforms and coral reefs at the northern limit for Atlantic reef growth.

Notable as one of the world's northernmost coral reef systems, a key waypoint for migratory species, and an important site for studying Gulf Stream influences on reef ecology.

Puerto Rico Trench

Trench

A deep submarine trench north of Puerto Rico and Hispaniola that marks a major subduction-zone boundary between the North American Plate and the Caribbean Plate.

The deepest part of the Atlantic Ocean and an important tectonic and seismic zone influencing regional hazards and deep-ocean habitats.

Charlie-Gibbs Fracture Zone

Trench

A major transform fault and fracture-zone valley system cutting across the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, forming deep passages and complex seafloor terrain.

A key biogeographic corridor and mixing zone for deep waters; the area is central to studies of deep-ocean circulation and species dispersal across the Atlantic.

Sargasso Sea

Bay

A distinctive open-ocean sea region of the North Atlantic bounded by currents, characterized by floating Sargassum seaweed mats.

A critical nursery and feeding habitat for eels, turtles, and many pelagic species; globally famous for its unique ecosystem defined by ocean currents rather than coastlines.

Puerto Rico Trench

Trench

A deep oceanic trench north of Puerto Rico and Hispaniola, marking a major subduction zone boundary in the North Atlantic region.

It is the deepest part of the Atlantic Ocean and an important tectonic and deep-sea habitat area, influencing regional geology and associated marine research.

Grand Banks of Newfoundland

Seamount

A broad, shallow area of the continental shelf southeast of Newfoundland, comprising a series of submarine banks where cold Labrador Current waters meet warmer Gulf Stream-influenced waters.

Historically among the world's richest fishing grounds; noted for high biological productivity and as a focal area for ocean-front dynamics and marine management.

Flemish Cap

Seamount

An isolated offshore bank (shallow plateau) east of Newfoundland, separated from the Grand Banks by deeper channels.

A notable, productive fishing and biodiversity area with distinct oceanographic conditions; important in international fisheries governance and stock assessments.

Labrador Sea

Sea

A cold, deep basin between Greenland and Labrador where winter cooling and winds promote deep convection.

One of the principal regions of North Atlantic Deep Water formation, making it central to the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation and global climate regulation.

Strait of Gibraltar

Strait

A narrow passage between southern Spain and northern Morocco connecting the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea.

A globally important choke point for water exchange, nutrient flow, and shipping; strong currents and mixing create distinctive habitats and influence Atlantic chemistry.

Faroe-Shetland Channel

Strait

A deep marine passage between the Faroe Islands and the Shetland Islands that routes cold overflow waters and warm inflows between the Nordic Seas and the North Atlantic.

A key gateway for dense-water overflows that contribute to deep-ocean circulation; ecologically important for deep-water habitats (including corals) and for commercial fisheries.

Azores Archipelago

Island

A volcanic island chain near the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, with surrounding deep waters, seamounts, and steep island slopes.

Renowned for cetacean diversity and pelagic ecosystems; a hotspot for migration corridors, seamount-associated biodiversity, and oceanographic research.

Gorringe Bank

Seamount

A large seamount/bank southwest of Portugal with peaks rising to relatively shallow depths compared with the surrounding seafloor.

A well-known seamount system that concentrates marine life and attracts fisheries; also notable for complex geology tied to plate interactions near Iberia.

Puerto Rico Trench

Trench

A deep oceanic trench north of Puerto Rico and Hispaniola on the boundary between the North American and Caribbean plates; it includes the Milwaukee Deep, the deepest point in the Atlantic Ocean.

The deepest part of the Atlantic and a key tectonic feature for studying subduction-zone processes and related earthquake and tsunami hazards in the northeastern Caribbean region.

Rockall Trough

Trench

A deep oceanic trough in the northeast Atlantic, located west of Scotland and Ireland, adjacent to Rockall Bank.

A major deep-water habitat area that supports cold-water corals and sponge communities and is frequently referenced in North Atlantic deep-sea ecology and conservation planning.

Baffin Bay (southern gateway to the North Atlantic)

Bay

A large embayment between Greenland and Baffin Island that connects via Davis Strait toward the Labrador Sea.

A major Arctic-Atlantic transition zone affecting sea-ice export, marine mammal habitats, and the freshwater balance influencing North Atlantic circulation.

U-869 (New Jersey Coast)

Shipwreck

A German World War II submarine wreck off the U.S. Mid-Atlantic coast, lying on the continental shelf in recreational diving range.

A famous Atlantic shipwreck dive site and historical landmark; the identification story and accessible wreck ecology make it widely known among divers.

SS America Wreck (Fuerteventura, Canary Islands)

Shipwreck

Remains of an ocean liner wrecked off the coast of Fuerteventura in the Canary Islands, in the eastern North Atlantic.

Iconic, photogenic wreck site illustrating Atlantic storm hazards and maritime history; a well-known coastal attraction tied to North Atlantic shipping routes.

Canary Islands (Eastern North Atlantic)

Island

A volcanic archipelago off northwest Africa influenced by the Canary Current and coastal upwelling.

A classic upwelling-driven ecosystem supporting productive fisheries and diverse pelagic life; important for studying subtropical-temperate transitions in the Atlantic.

Bimini & North Bahamas (Great Bahama Bank margin)

Diving Site

Clear-water dive region on the western edge of the Bahamas platform, with walls, reefs, and strong current-influenced channels.

Famous for high-visibility diving and shark encounters; a well-known example of carbonate platform margins interacting with Gulf Stream dynamics.

People & the Sea

Human Interaction

Historical Significance

The North Atlantic has been a core corridor of human movement and exchange for millennia. Early seafaring and coastal trade linked Atlantic Europe and northwest Africa, while Phoenician and later Roman-era navigation influenced routes along the Iberian and Moroccan coasts. Norse/Viking exploration (c. 8th-11th centuries) pushed into the North Atlantic via the Faroe Islands, Iceland, Greenland, and briefly Newfoundland (L'Anse aux Meadows), establishing stepping-stone routes across subpolar waters. From the 15th century onward, Iberian-led exploration and the Age of Sail transformed the basin into a transoceanic highway connecting Europe, West Africa, and the Americas. The North Atlantic became central to colonial expansion and the Atlantic trading system, including the forced transatlantic transport of enslaved Africans. In the 19th-20th centuries it was the principal arena for transatlantic passenger liners, telegraph/communications cables, and later transatlantic aviation support; it also holds enduring cultural memory from major maritime disasters (e.g., RMS Titanic) and from the Battle of the Atlantic in WWII, when convoy routes and anti-submarine warfare shaped modern naval doctrine.

Shipping

One of the world's busiest ocean basins for container, tanker, and bulk traffic, dominated by transatlantic routes linking Eastern North America with Western/Northern Europe. Major lanes include: (1) the North Atlantic Great Circle-style corridors between the U.S./Canada (New York-New Jersey, Norfolk, Halifax, Montreal via St. Lawrence) and Europe (UK, Ireland, France, Benelux, Germany, Scandinavia), seasonally adjusted for weather/ice; (2) routes from the U.S. Gulf/East Coast and Caribbean to Europe and northwest Africa; (3) Europe-West Africa lanes along Portugal/Spain-Morocco-Canary Islands toward West African hubs; and (4) North Sea-Baltic-Norwegian Sea feeder networks connecting into the broader North Atlantic. Key ports and gateways include Rotterdam, Antwerp-Bruges, Hamburg, Bremerhaven, Le Havre, London Gateway/Felixstowe, Liverpool, Dublin, Lisbon/Sines, Algeciras (often treated as Atlantic-Mediterranean interface), Casablanca/Tangier Med (NW Africa), New York-New Jersey, Savannah, Charleston, Norfolk, Boston, Halifax, Montreal/Quebec (seasonal/ice considerations), and Reykjavik as a North Atlantic transshipment/support node. Maritime chokepoints influencing traffic include the English Channel, approaches to the North Sea, the Strait of Gibraltar (interface), and the St. Lawrence Seaway system (seasonal).

Fishing

Commercial Fishing

Among the most intensively fished temperate/subpolar regions, supporting large industrial fleets from the EU/UK, Norway, Iceland, Faroe Islands, Greenland (Denmark), Canada, and the U.S. Commercial activity targets shelf and slope systems such as the Grand Banks, Georges Bank, Flemish Cap, Rockall Trough margins, Iceland-Faroe shelves, Norwegian Sea margins, and the Barents/Arctic gateway. Management is largely quota-based (e.g., NEAFC in parts of the Northeast Atlantic; national regimes/ICCAT for tunas), but pressures persist from stock variability, climate-driven range shifts, bycatch, and historical overfishing on certain banks.

Artisanal Fishing

Small-scale and community fisheries remain culturally and economically important along Atlantic Canada and New England; the Irish, Scottish, and English coasts; Brittany and the Bay of Biscay; Portugal and Galicia; and northwest Africa (Morocco/Mauritania interface at the basin edge). These fisheries often use pots/traps, gillnets, handlines, and small trawlers, supplying local markets with shellfish, demersal fish, and pelagics. Seasonal targeting and mixed-species catches are common, with livelihoods sensitive to fuel costs, access rights, and ecosystem change.

Major Species

Atlantic cod Haddock Pollock (saithe) Atlantic herring Mackerel (Atlantic mackerel) Capelin Blue whiting Redfish (Sebastes spp.) Greenland halibut (turbot) Atlantic halibut Plaice and other flatfish Northern shrimp Snow crab American lobster Scallops (sea scallops and related species) Tunas (bluefin, albacore, yellowfin in warmer sectors) Swordfish

Diving

Diving conditions range from temperate to subpolar. Water temperatures are often cool (especially north of ~40°N), with strong currents influenced by the Gulf Stream/North Atlantic Drift, variable visibility (excellent in some offshore/island settings; reduced near productive shelves), and frequent swell and weather systems. Many sites are best suited to experienced divers, with drysuits common in northern areas. Hazards can include surge, tides, kelp, and rapid weather changes.

Strytan Hydrothermal Chimneys, Eyjafjordur, Iceland (marine North Atlantic cold-water diving)
SS Thistlegorm-class interest is Mediterranean, but in the North Atlantic: WWII wrecks off Scapa Flow, Orkney (e.g., SMS Markgraf, SMS Kronprinz Wilhelm)
Lusitania wreck area off the coast of Ireland (deep/technical)
U-boat and WWII wreck sites in the English Channel approaches and off the UK/Ireland (various)
Azores (princess Alice Bank region for pelagics; offshore seamount diving/blue-water encounters)
Madeira and Canary Islands (Atlantic edge; volcanic reefs, caves, pelagics)
Bay of Fundy / Nova Scotia wreck and kelp diving (seasonal)
Iceland coastal geothermal-influenced sites and lava formations (various)

Tourism

Tourism is strongly tied to coastal culture and wildlife. Major activities include whale watching (e.g., Gulf of Maine, Bay of Fundy, Iceland, Azores, Norway's Atlantic coast), seabird and puffin tours (Iceland, Faroe Islands, Scotland), cruising (Northern Europe itineraries; North Atlantic repositioning voyages; Greenland/Iceland expedition cruises), sailing and ocean racing (e.g., transatlantic races), beach tourism in warmer eastern margins and islands (Azores, Madeira, Canaries on the Atlantic edge), and coastal heritage tourism around historic ports (Lisbon, Porto, Dublin, Liverpool, Bristol, Bordeaux/Nantes, Boston, Halifax, St. John's). Cold-water destinations emphasize scenery, fisheries heritage, and Northern Lights/Arctic gateway experiences (Iceland, Greenland, northern Norway).

Oil & Gas

Hydrocarbon exploration and production have historically been significant in parts of the North Atlantic, particularly the Northeast Atlantic. Major activity centers include the North Sea (often considered connected to the North Atlantic system), the Norwegian Sea margins, and the UK/Norway continental shelves, supported by dense offshore infrastructure, pipelines, and service ports (e.g., Aberdeen, Stavanger). The Atlantic margin west of Shetland has also hosted development, while exploration interest has varied off Ireland and in frontier basins. On the western side, offshore production exists along the Atlantic margins of Canada (notably offshore Newfoundland and Labrador) with associated tanker/shuttle operations and harsh-environment engineering. Regulatory shifts, decarbonization policy, and price cycles influence new leasing; decommissioning and environmental monitoring are major ongoing components.

Military Presence

Strategically vital as the principal maritime link between North America and Europe. The North Atlantic remains central to NATO planning for reinforcement and sea-lane protection, echoing WWII convoy lessons. Key features include GIUK (Greenland-Iceland-UK) gap surveillance importance for tracking naval movements between the Arctic/North Atlantic and the wider Atlantic; routine anti-submarine warfare (ASW) patrols; and extensive undersea infrastructure protection concerns (subsea cables, pipelines, offshore energy assets). Major naval and air bases and patrol networks span the U.S. and Canadian Atlantic coasts, the UK and Ireland's approaches, Iceland's strategic location (Keflavik area for periodic deployments), Norway's North Atlantic/Arctic interface, and French/Spanish/Portuguese Atlantic assets. Exercises and joint maritime operations are common, with increasing attention to the High North and to critical seabed infrastructure security.

Bordering Cultures

The North Atlantic borders a wide mosaic of coastal and Indigenous cultures. In North America, this includes Inuit communities in Greenland and Arctic Canada with strong marine subsistence traditions, as well as Atlantic First Nations and Indigenous peoples in Canada (e.g., Mi'kmaq and others along Atlantic provinces) and coastal communities in New England with deep fisheries heritage. In Europe, maritime cultures include Norse and North Atlantic island societies (Icelanders, Faroese), coastal Norwegians, and the fishing/shipbuilding traditions of the British and Irish coasts, Brittany, Galicia, and Portugal. Along northwest Africa, coastal Moroccan and other Atlantic-facing communities integrate artisanal fisheries, maritime trade, and port-centered livelihoods. Across the basin, shared cultural elements include seafaring identity, cod and pelagic fisheries traditions, shipbuilding and navigation heritage, and strong ties between ocean conditions (storms, currents, seasons) and community life.

Did You Know?

Fun Facts

Superlatives

Deepest point: the Milwaukee Deep in the Puerto Rico Trench reaches about 8.38 km (≈27,500 ft) below sea level-slightly shallower than Mount Everest is tall (8.85 km).
The Gulf Stream is one of Earth's most powerful ocean currents, moving an enormous volume of water and heat northward across the basin.
The Sargasso Sea (within the North Atlantic subtropical gyre) is the world's only "sea" with no land boundaries-defined instead by surrounding currents.
The Grand Banks off Newfoundland have long been among the most productive fishing areas on the planet due to nutrient-rich mixing on the continental shelf.
Some of the largest known "rogue wave" measurements have been recorded in the North Atlantic, where intense storms and crossing seas can stack waves unexpectedly high.

Surprising Facts

Western Europe's relatively mild winters are strongly influenced by North Atlantic heat transport; cities at similar latitudes in eastern Canada are often far colder.
The Sargasso Sea can look like a floating meadow: mats of sargassum seaweed form a pelagic habitat that supports juvenile fish, turtles, and specialized invertebrates.
Cold-water coral reefs thrive in parts of the North Atlantic (especially the NE Atlantic), living in dark, chilly water-corals aren't only tropical.
In parts of the subpolar North Atlantic, surface waters can become dense enough in winter to sink and help drive global ocean circulation (a key piece of the "ocean conveyor belt").
Many iconic "deep-sea" species in the North Atlantic (e.g., some sharks and squid) regularly migrate vertically hundreds of meters each day, feeding near the surface at night and retreating by day.

Comparisons

The Gulf Stream's flow is often cited at tens of Sverdrups (1 Sv = 1 million m³/s), meaning it can carry on the order of ~100× the combined flow of all the world's rivers.
The Milwaukee Deep's depth (~8.38 km) is a bit less than Mount Everest's height (8.85 km)-about 95% as deep as Everest is tall.
A transatlantic crossing from New York to Lisbon is roughly the width of the contiguous U.S.-a helpful gut-check for the basin's scale.
Seasonal sea-surface temperature swings in the temperate North Atlantic can be like the difference between "summer lake" and "near-freezing bathwater," shifting ecosystems dramatically over a single year.

Unusual Phenomena

North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO): a shifting atmospheric pressure pattern that can flip winter weather outcomes for eastern North America and Europe, influencing storms, winds, and ocean conditions.
Rogue waves: powerful North Atlantic storms and intersecting wave trains can produce rare, steep "walls of water" that exceed surrounding waves by a large margin.
Deep-water formation in the Labrador and Greenland-Iceland-Norwegian seas: surface water chills, grows saltier/denser, and sinks-helping ventilate the deep ocean with oxygen.
Langmuir circulation: wind-driven surface streaks that gather foam, sargassum, and debris into long parallel lines you can sometimes see from ships or aircraft.
Iceberg scours: drifting icebergs can plow the seafloor on shelves, carving grooves that reshape habitats and leave long geologic signatures.

Historical Facts

The North Atlantic was the main stage for the first successful transatlantic telegraph cables (mid-1800s), revolutionizing global communication from "weeks" to "minutes."
The Titanic sank in the North Atlantic in 1912 after striking an iceberg-an event that reshaped maritime safety practices worldwide.
The "Battle of the Atlantic" (1939-1945) was a decisive WWII campaign fought largely through convoy routes, U-boat warfare, and anti-submarine innovation.
Viking voyages reached the North Atlantic islands and Newfoundland around a thousand years ago, making some of the earliest known European crossings into North America.
Charles Lindbergh's 1927 solo transatlantic flight turned the North Atlantic into a symbol of modern aviation's new reach.

Cultural References

Titanic (book/film adaptations) cemented the North Atlantic as an enduring setting for human drama and maritime lore.
The Perfect Storm popularized the North Atlantic's reputation for complex, dangerous storm systems where weather patterns collide.
Moby-Dick (while spanning oceans) is strongly tied to Atlantic whaling culture and the era when North Atlantic routes fueled major whaling ports.
The Bermuda Triangle-often cited in pop culture and paranormal media-sits in the western North Atlantic near Bermuda, Puerto Rico, and Florida.
BBC's "Shipping Forecast" is woven into UK culture and frequently references North Atlantic sea areas, turning ocean conditions into a nightly ritual of place-names and weather.

Animals Found in the North Atlantic Ocean

318 species documented in our encyclopedia

Stromatolite Albacore Tuna Albatross Caiman Amberjack American Alligator American Eel Goose Anchovy Anglerfish Anhinga Arctic Char Bonefish Atlantic Cod Atlantic Salmon Atlantic Sturgeon Bald Eagle Baleen Whale Dragonfish Barnacle Barracuda Basilosaurus Basking Shark Bass Batfish Bear Bearded Fireworm Belted Kingfisher Bird Black Sea Bass Blackfin Tuna Blacknose Shark Blacktip Shark Bladefin Basslet Blanket Octopus Blue Dragon Sea Slug Blue Shark Blue Whale Bluefin Tuna Bluefish Sixgill shark Bonito Fish Bonnethead Shark Booby Bowhead Whale Box Jellyfish Boxfish Bull Shark Butterfly Fish Canvasback Caribbean Reef Shark Chimaera Chiton Clearnose Skate Cobia Fish Cockle Codfish Comb Jellyfish Common Angelshark Bottlenose Dolphin Common Goldeneye Common Loon Minke Whale Cone Snail Conger Eel Cookiecutter Shark Coral Cormorant Crab Crocodile Shark Cubera Snapper Cuttlefish Damselfish Decorator Crab Deinosuchus Diving Duck Dolphin Drum Fish Duck Dunkleosteus Dusky Shark Eagle Ray Eagle Fur Seal Eelpout Eel Eider Escolar Eurypterus False Killer Whale Fangtooth Feather Star Fiddler Crab Fin Whale Flamingo Flounder Flying Fish Football Fish Freshwater Eel Frigatebird Frilled Shark Frogfish Galapagos Shark Garden Eel Ghost Crab Giant Isopod Giant Siphonophore Tusoteuthis Goblin Shark Goby Fish Banana Eel Goliath Grouper Great Blue Heron Great Hammerhead Shark Great White Shark White Shark Grebe Green Heron Greenland Shark Grey Seal Mangrove Snapper Grouper Fish Seagull Haddock Hagfish Hainosaurus Halibut Hammerhead Shark Harbor Porpoise Harbor Seal Quahog Clam Hardhead Catfish Harp Seal Hermit Crab Heron Herring Herring Gull Hogfish Hooded Seal Horned Grebe Horse Mackerel Horseshoe Crab Humpback Whale Ibis Ichthyosaurus Jack Crevalle Jellyfish John Dory Jonah Crab Killer Whale Killifish King Crab King Eider King Mackerel Kitefin Shark Krill Ladyfish Lamprey Lancetfish Leatherback Sea Turtle Leech Leedsichthys Lemon Shark Leptocephalus Lesser Scaup Limpet Lion's Mane Jellyfish Lionfish Liopleurodon Lizardfish Lizard Lobster Longfin Mako Shark Lumpfish Mahi Mahi (Dolphin Fish) Manatee Manta Ray Angelfish Megalodon Merganser Whiting Mojarra Sand Crab Mole Crab (Sand Flea) Mollusk Monkfish Moon Jellyfish Moray Eel Mosasaurus Mullet Fish Narwhal Needlefish River Otter Nudibranch Nurse Shark Oarfish Ocean Pout Mola mola (Ocean Sunfish) Oceanic Whitetip Shark Octopus Opah Orange Roughy Ornithocheirus Osprey Ostracod Oyster Oyster Toadfish Palaeophis Parrotfish Pelagornis Pelagornithidae Pelican Pinfish Pipefish Plesiosaur Pliosaur Polar Bear Pollock Sandworm Pond Skater Porbeagle Shark Porcupinefish Man of War Jellyfish Prawn Pteranodon Pufferfish Puffin Pyrosome Fish Red Drum Fish Reef Shark Ring-billed Gull Rockfish Roseate Spoonbill Ruddy Turnstone Xeme (Sabine's Gull) Sailfish Salmon Sand Dollar Sand Tiger Shark Sandpiper Sardines Scallops Scorpion Fish Sculpin Sea Anemone Sea Eagle Sea Roach Sea Slug Sea Spider Sea Squirt Sea Trout Sea Urchin Seahorse Sei Whale Sea Bass Shark Sheepshead Fish Shortfin Mako Shark Shrimp Silky Shark Skate Fish Skipjack Tuna Skua Sleeper Shark Smooth Hammerhead Shark Snail Snailfish Snook Fish Snow Crab Spanish Mackerel Sperm Whale Spider Spinner Shark Spiny Dogfish Sponge Speckled Trout Squid Starfish Stargazer Fish Stingray Stone crabs Stoplight Loosejaw Striped Bass Sturgeon Fluke Fish (Summer Flounder) Surgeonfish Swan Swordfish Tang Tarpon Telescopefishes (Giganturids) Thornback Ray Thresher Shark Tiger Shark Toadfish Triggerfish Tropicbird Trout Seal Tuna Sea Turtle Turtles Tylosaurus Viperfish Wahoo Fish Walrus Whale Shark Whimbrel White Marlin White-Tailed Eagle Wolffish Wrasse Xiphactinus Yellowfin Tuna Yellowtail Snapper