AbstractThe distribution of Gammarus oceanicus, G. setosus and G. wilkitzkii was studied over the period 1981–1991 in the coastal zone of the Svalbard and Franz Josef Land archipelagos. The occurrence of G. oceanicus is connected with the presence of Atlantic waters and favourable ice conditions. In the area investigated this species was found on the west and north coasts of the island Vestspitsbergen only. G. setosus occurs in most of the investigated localities, being most abundant in the inner fjord basins and other sheltered waters. G. wilkitzkii occurs typically in ice-associated plankton, but occurs in the intertidal zone among; algae at Franz Josef Land. The maximum densities of gammarids attained 2000 ind/m² at maximum, the mean being about 300 ind/m² , the typical site being large stones in sheltered bays at low water.