Fjords are deep, glacially excavated estuaries that have several unique characteristics
compared to shallower embayments. They are common to high-latitude western
coastlines and much of the Arctic coastline. Fjord research has attracted a large
international following of oceanographers since the eighteenth century for both
practical and scientific considerations. Like other estuary types, many fjords have
become the marine toilet of man's activities on these coasts and are sinks for
authropogenic disposal. However, the slower flushing times that are unique to fjords,
compared to other estuarine types, allow build-up of pollutants in water, biota and
sediments. High organic input to fjords already approaching eutrophication may
have a critical effect. Anoxic waters can devastate the pelagic and benthic biota. The
most essential problem with respect to pollution and sediments is how to assess the
ecological impact of polluted sediments (i.e. under what conditions do the pollutants
have a high bioavailability factor). The need here is for an understanding of nature's
resilience and natural processes operating in fjords.