Abstract About 7% of the world ocean is subject to the seasonal advance and retreat of sea ice. Physical processes at ice edges, interacting with biological phenomena, have been observed to promote phytoplankton blooms in both the Arctic (e.g., Bering and Greenland Seas) and the Antarctic. This interaction occurs primarily in spring with the retreating and melting sea ice laying down low-salinity derived stratification that reduces mixing in the photic zone which encourages a phytoplankton bloom. However other physical processes, such as oceanic eddys and fronts also play a role in enhancing primary productivity at the ice edge. This paper reviews biophysical oceanographic and meteorological interactions observed in both the eastern (Greenland Sea) and western (Bering Sea) Arctic. Comparisons of the physical and biological characteristics for these areas, as well as additional comparisons with the Barents Sea and Antarctic waters and other regions of the world ocean are presented. An estimate of some outstanding marginal ice edge research problems is also included.