Hello all, We are pleased to share the below open access publication, should it interest you. O’Callaghan, S.A., Similä, T., Gammell, M. and O'Brien, J. (2026). Sperm whale (*Physeter macrocephalus*) strandings in Norway and Svalbard. *Polar Biology* 49, 66. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-026-03499-6 Abstract Norwegian waters represent an important male sperm whale foraging area with an extensive continental shelf edge pocketed with deep submarine canyon systems. A total of 120 sperm whale strandings along the Norwegian mainland coast were recorded primarily between the 1950’s – 2026 while two historic records from the 1700’s were also recorded. Of these, 7 live strandings occurred between 1980 and 2020 involving single individuals. One fishing gear entanglement cases and one ship strike was recorded. Most strandings centred around the Vesterålen and Lofoten archipelagos (n = 48) between 67–69°N. Strandings were reported in all months but most frequently in May (n = 22) followed by July (n = 21). In Svalbard (76–80°N), 11 strandings were reported between 2001 and 2022. Floating carcasses at sea were recorded on 18 occasions off Norway (n = 15) and Svalbard (n = 3) where the most northern record was in the pack ice north of Spitzbergen at 81°N in 2025. One female live stranded in July 2020 north of the Arctic Circle at Saltfjorden, Bodø (67°N) which likely represents the furthest north record for a confirmed female globally to date. All other carcasses were either male, too decomposed to determine their sex or the specified information was not available. This study contributes knowledge to the presence and distribution of sperm whales in Norwegian waters using dead individuals. The article is available here https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00300-026-03499-6#citeas Kind regards, Seán