Development and Management of Low-Impact Shipping Corridors in Nunavut: workshop discussion paper.

Abstract

Climate change and the combined effects of other global economic factors have facilitated an increase in Arctic shipping traffic. The total kilometers travelled by ships in Inuit Nunangat has more than tripled since 1990 and most of this increase has occurred in Nunavut waters. Current and expected increases in Arctic shipping (movement of goods) and transportation (movement of people) in Nunavut will bring both risks and opportunities. The extent to which risks can be minimized and opportunities enhanced will depending highly on the effectiveness of a shared approach to management among national, regional, and local stakeholders and rights holders. An important initiative for Arctic shipping management that has been established by the federal government of Canada is the ‘Low Impact Corridors’ previously referred to as the Northern Marine Transportation Corridors. The aim of the Corridors initiative is to minimize the impacts of shipping in Inuit Nunangat through the creation of voluntary, incentive-based shipping routes that will guide future regulatory decision-making, infrastructure and investment decisions, and enhance safe navigation that respects both people and the environment. The Corridors were developed by the Canadian Coast Guard, Transport Canada, and the Canadian Hydrographic Service using historic shipping data and an analysis of shipping risks. In partnership with the Canadian Coast Guard, a research team at the University of Ottawa established the ‘Arctic Corridors and Northern Voices’ project (see www.arcticorridors.ca) in order to ensure that local perspectives and knowledge were also considered fully within corridors prioritization, implementation, and management. The project involved 14 community mapping workshops to identify local concerns, create culturally significant marine areas (CSMAs) and to identify local recommendations for the corridors. One of the consistent concerns expressed by community members was the need for a shared leadership approach to managing shipping in Inuit Nunangat. The purpose of this workshop is to provide: 1) an introduction to the Low-Impact Shipping Corridors Initiative; 2) share knowledge from different perspectives about Arctic shipping concerns and opportunities; and 3) to begin a conversation about how the Corridors can be co-managed in Nunavut waters. This discussion paper contains background information, including a definition of Low-Impact Shipping Corridors, an overview of Arctic shipping trends, potential Corridors models, Nunavut community members’ perspectives about the Corridors, and an introduction to the proposed Canadian Arctic Shipping and Transportation Network (CASTnet). It also outlines six key questions that are intended to guide discussions about Corridors development and shared management approaches for shipping in Nunavut waters.