In 2018, Murmansk Marine Biological Institute carried out large-scale field and laboratory studies of marine and terrestrial ecosystems components in the Spitsbergen area within the framework of the state task “Comprehensive studies of ecosystems of fjords and seas surrounding the Spitsbergen archipelago”. Funding for this project was provided by the state program of Russian scientists presence on the archipelago. The Institute conducted coastal research in the area of long-term continuous observations based on the biogeological station MMBI in Barentsburg. a huge amount of scientific material has been collected in all areas of marine and terrestrial ecosystem research for further processing and analysis in the spring and summer seasons.

Some results of the work were reported at the XIV All-Russian Scientific Conference with International Participation "Integrated studies of Svalbard nature and offshore ", which was organized by the Institutes from October 30 to November 2, 2018. “Russian Spitsbergen Herald” published a note by Natalia Lebedeva on results of a scientific forum, in the last issue of 2018.