The Faroe Plateau Large Marine Ecosystem (LME) is characterized
by its subarctic climate. Surrounding the Faroe Islands in the
Northeast Atlantic Ocean, it is a high latitude extreme
environment in which temperature, currents, tides and seasonal
oscillations affect productivity. The Faroe Plateau is a very
defined and geographically uniform LME. The islands have a
relatively broad shelf and are surrounded by a persistent tidal
front that separates shelf water from the open ocean. The
circulation of water masses is anticyclonic, with a branch of
the North Atlantic Drift current flowing north. Climate is the
primary force driving the LME, with intensive fishing as the
secondary driving force. Climate (e.g. temperature) is the
primary force driving the LME. Currents, tides and seasonal
oscillations affect productivity. The shallow parts of the shelf
are well mixed by extreme tidal currents and no stratification
occurs during the summer. The Faroe Plateau LME is considered a
Category II, moderately high productiv