The
International Maritime Organization took incremental steps to protecting marine
environments, including in the Arctic, from noise pollution. The voluntary
measures, however, do not go far enough, say environmental groups and the Inuit
Circumpolar Council, especially for the Arctic Ocean’s sensitive ecosystem.
Especially
harmful in Arctic
“The
Arctic Ocean is the last ocean on earth to remain relatively unpolluted by
underwater noise, yet the region is experiencing immense pressure from climate
change and increased industrial development,” says Melanie Lancaster, Senior
specialist, Arctic species, WWF Arctic Programme.
The harm arising from noise pollution
is especially high in the Arctic as melting sea and rapidly increasing economic
activity, such as shipping, coincide. The melting of sea ice has multiple
negative effects. Not only did sea ice in the past limit the amount of shipping
traffic in the Arctic Ocean, it also functioned as a “sound buffer” reducing
the impact of noise.
We are disappointed
Dr Sian Prior, Clean Arctic Alliance Lead Advisor
Similar
concerns were voiced by the Clean Arctic Alliance.
Doubled
in six years
In the
past the Arctic Ocean has been largely free of man-made sounds; bar a limited
number of research icebreakers and submarines. However, this is rapidly
changing with noise pollution in the region doubling between 2013-2019. And
since then traffic volume and maritime economic activity in the Arctic has
further increased.
With noise pollution doubling in just six
years, action to protect
the marine environment in the Arctic is urgently needed, explains the ICC: “This is significant considering that it took decades for
other parts of the world to experience those types of increases.”
While
the issue of noise pollution is not unique to the Arctic, but occurs
universally across the global oceans,
the Polar region’s unique environment will require special protections,
explains Sarah Bobbe, Arctic Program Manager, at Ocean Conservancy.
“The
IMO’s future work on underwater noise must include compulsory measures such as
the adoption of limits on underwater radiated noise from ships, so that the
overall failure to reduce underwater noise is addressed globally,” concludes
Bobbe. “In addition to global measures, even more stringent regional measures
to reduce acoustic pollution from vessels in areas such as the Arctic will be
necessary.”