Charting the Future for Cetaceans and Polar Shipping

As the Arctic continues to warm at twice the rate of the global average, it has become more accessible to industrial activities and shipping. These increasing activities pose potential risks – including a spill of heavy fuel oil (HFO) and disruption from noise – to the Arctic’s cetaceans (whales and dolphins), like the beluga whale and the narwhal. As the regulatory body responsible for maritime shipping, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has the opportunity to mitigate these impacts. For the 71st Meeting of the Marine Environment Protection Committee EIA in collaboration with the International Council for Clean Transportation (ICCT) presented the following briefing highlighting possible impacts and solutions for a cleaner, quieter Arctic marine environment.