WWF-Canada reported that major weaknesses in response preparedness mean remote Arctic communities face an almost certain environmental catastrophe in the event of an Arctic shipping oil spill.
The research uncovered major issues regarding the state and availability of oil-spill response equipment, limited training resources and unreliable communications infrastructure, which, combined with a rise in shipping in the Arctic and extreme weather events, leaves Arctic communities increasingly vulnerable.
Community members are often the first responders to any spill, and need access to effective and reliable equipment to contain and clean up oil. Heavy fuel oil (HFO) is the standard marine fuel for cargo ships, tankers and large cruise ships. It is also one of the world’s dirtiest, most polluting ship fuels, and the most difficult to clean up.
Gaps in oil spill response capacity are outlined in two parallel assessments for the Beaufort region in the western Arctic and Nunavut in the east. The reports found that:
- Only a small number of coastal communities have access to the most basic oil-spill response equipment from the Canadian Coast Guard.
- The communities that do have equipment say it is irregularly maintained, too few community members are trained to use it, and that some communities don’t have a key to access the storage containers.
- Harsh weather conditions, periods of prolonged darkness and the presence of sea ice make most standard oil-spill response equipment ineffective.
- Remote locations mean response times for large-scale cleanup and storage equipment can be more than 10 times longer than in waters south of 60 degrees’ latitude.
- Lack of reliable communications infrastructure makes it difficult for communities to call for assistance, and for responders to communicate with those on land during an oil-spill response.
The consequences of an oil spill in remote communities include:
- Contamination of important habitat for wildlife, such as polar bears, walrus, seabirds and seals, as well as narwhals, belugas and bowhead whales.
- Long-term destruction of fish habitat, a staple of the Arctic diet.
- Wide-reaching contamination if oil gets trapped under sea ice and travels to communities hundreds of kilometres away.
However, a third report outlines a framework for creating oil spill response plans in Nunavut’s remote communities.
Though the chances of a large-scale oil spill in the Arctic are currently small, the consequences would be significant. As sea ice melts and ship traffic increases, there is an opportunity now, while traffic is still relatively low, to put measures in place to respond to spills, or prevent them from happening in the first place. Because sparsely populated Arctic communities assume the risk of spills, they need both adequate equipment and response plans specifically tailored to the extreme Arctic environment.
Recommendations from the reports include:
- Phase out the use by ships of HFO, the most toxic and difficult to clean up of any marine fuel in the Arctic.
- Align response time standards in the North with those south of 60 degrees latitude.
- Develop community-based response plans.
- Increase funding for training of community responders.
- Consult with Inuit organizations on decisions that affect Arctic communities, and use both scientific and traditional knowledge to identify preferred shipping routes and areas to be avoided.
David Miller, WWF-Canada president and CEO, says: “Arctic wildlife, including polar bears, walrus, sea birds, as well as belugas, narwhals and bowhead whales, would be severely harmed in the event of an oil spill. The aftermath would also be felt in Arctic communities that depend on healthy waters for their food. Shipping will be part of the economic development crucial to creating robust, healthy northern communities, but we must ensure these opportunities also benefit nature. Now is the time to put measures in place that will help protect coastal communities and Arctic wildlife.”
Andrew Dumbrille, WWF-Canada senior specialist, sustainable shipping, says: “Shipping in the Canadian Arctic is only going to increase. We’ve already seen a large cruise ship traverse the Northwest Passage, and new proposals for increased shipping for major mining projects are emerging due to longer open-water periods. The gaps identified in these reports are extremely concerning. It is not right that these communities should bear the heavy consequences of a ship-based oil spill, and not be given the tools and training necessary to limit the damage. We need to make serious changes to oil-spill response plans in the Arctic before our luck runs out.”
Further information may be found in the following report:
Source: WWF Canada
