A joint expedition by the Marine Mammals Council and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) was held on 24-27 April 2014 in Pechora Sea and near Vaygach Island. Specialists from the All-Russian Research Institute for Nature Protection also participated.

The expedition was responsible for a number of important tasks. Special studies of polar bears were performed in the region for the first time, and helicopter-based aerial surveys of walruses in Pechora Sea were conducted for the first time in spring New data on the distribution of white whales as well as ringed and bearded seals were obtained.

The helicopter flight covered some 30,000 sq km of water from Russky Zavorot Bay in the southeast of the Barents Sea up to areas of the Kara Sea near Vaygach Island in the northwestern part of Baidaratskaya Bay. The aviation services were provided by Naryan-Mar’s combined aircraft group. 

White whales were spotted in the ice-covered waters, and ringed and bearded seals encountered on the route were also recorded.