Arctic marine shipping, if not properly managed, poses a threat to natural ecosystems
The Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development has issued a report presenting the results of a performance audit focused on marine navigation in the Canadian Arctic.
Marine traffic and navigational risks in Canada’s Arctic
Marine transportation plays a critical role in the sustainability ofthe region, as it is the primary means of moving goods to, from, andthrough Canada’s Arctic. According to Canadian CoastGuard statistics, there were about 350 marine voyages in 2013.Although this volume of vessel traffic is low compared with Canada’ssouthern waters, Arctic voyages have been increasing over the last20 years. Much of this increase is from fishing vessels aswell as tug boats, pleasure craft, research vessels, and passenger vessels.
This trend is expected to continue in coming years, drivenlargely by growing northern communities, expanding resourcedevelopment projects, and increasing tourism. For example, renewedinterest in oil and gas exploration and development in the BeaufortSea is expected to lead to more vessel and barge traffic. East of BaffinIsland, fishing boats are now able to operate in more northerly areas,and over a longer season. Environment Canada has estimated that newmining projects in the eastern Arctic could result in about 300 newvoyages per year by 2020, nearly doubling current traffic levels. TheCanadian Coast Guard expects that as resource development projectsmove forward in Canada’s Arctic region, the size and variety of shipswill increase, as will the demand for services.
Increased shipping opportunities in Arctic waters come withincreased risks to safety and the environment. The Canadian Arcticwaters are vast, remote, and can be hazardous to navigate, with much ofthese waters covered in ice for many months of the year. The 2009Arctic Marine Shipping Assessment (AMSA) by the Arctic Councilcautions that although sea ice is receding, marine operations will remainchallenging. Through 2020, the Northwest Passage is not expected tobecome a viable, regularly scheduled route across the Arctic for largercommercial ships. The AMSA notes that this is due to the highlyvariable ice conditions, the complexity of the archipelago, shallow watersin some locations, a lack of adequate charts, and insurance costs.
Reports from the federal government and international bodiesrecognize that Arctic marine shipping, if not properly managed, poses athreat to natural ecosystems. Transportation Safety Board of Canadarecords indicate marine accidents and incidents have occurred inCanada’s Arctic that included groundings, capsizings or sinkings,collisions, and damage by ice. If marine traffic continues to increase asexpected, marine incidents could become more frequent. CanadianCoast Guard data from 2002 to 2013 identifies about 100 spills fromvessels in Canada’s Arctic waters, most of which were petroleumproducts such as diesel fuel and gasoline. None of the spills wereestimated to be larger than 30 cubic metres. However, given the fragileenvironment, harsh weather conditions, limited infrastructure, and thedirect dependence of communities on those ecosystems, marine spillsas a result of shipping are considered one of the most serious threatsto Arctic ecosystems.
Further details may be found by reading the Report of the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development on Marine Navigation in the Canadian Arcitc
