The study of the bottom biota of the Kara Sea has been going on for over 100 years. Since the 1990s, the interest to ecosystems of the Sea has increased due to the growth of anthropogenic impact, namely, the intensification of the oil and gas field development in the shelf zone. Up to date, the recent survey is the most detailed and extensive investigation of the macrobenthos (for the entire observation period) in the southwestern Kara Sea. Macrobenthic distribution was assessed at 119 stations at depths ranging from 4 to 415 m in August–September 2012–2013. The results obtained allow suggesting the absence of serious changes in macrobenthos structure in the study area for last 80–90 years. Despite the differences in sampling methods and data processing, the main trends noted in the macrobenthic distribution in 2012–2013 were similar to those noted before. The identified abiotic factors most significant for distribution of benthic organisms - salinity, depth, sediment characteristics - were the same as reported in previous researches. Apparently, the state of macrobenthos in the study area at the beginning of the 21st century was close to the long-term norm. The presented data can be used as a reference point when tracking future ecosystem changes and possible consequences of anthropogenic and natural impacts.