Arctic Corridors and Northern Voices: governing marine transportation in the Canadian Arctic (Cambridge Bay, Nunavut community report)

• Main Authors: Carter, Natalie Ann, Dawson, Jackie, Knopp, Jennie, Joyce, Jenna, Weber, Melissa, Kochanowicz, Zuzanna, Mussells, Olivia
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: Université d'Ottawa / University of Ottawa 2018
• Subjects: Arctic shipping impacts; Culturally significant marine areas; Marine transportation governance; Inuit perspectives; Low impact shipping corridors; Arctic; Cambridge Bay; Canada; Northwest Passage; Nunavut; inuit; Northwest passage
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.20381/ruor37325; https://ruor.uottawa.ca/handle/10393/37325

Ship traffic in the Canadian Arctic nearly tripled between 1990 and 2015. Most of that increase happened in Nunavut waters. Between 1990 and 2015 Cambridge Bay had the third highest increase in vessel traffic in Nunavut. This increase can be explained by the increasing number of vessels transiting the Northwest Passage, including passenger ships, pleasure craft, tankers, and general cargo ships. The Government of Canada is developing a network of low-impact marine transportation corridors in the Arctic that encourages marine transportation traffic to use routes that pose less risk and minimize the impact on communities and the environment. The Low Impact Shipping Corridors will be a framework to guide future federal investments to support marine navigation safety in the North, including improved charting and increased hydrography, in partnership with Northerners. The corridors initiative is co-led by Transport Canada, the Canadian Coast Guard, and Canadian Hydrographic Service. Key considerations in the current prioritization of the corridors include identification of Inuit and northerners’ perspectives on 1) the potential impact of marine vessels on marine areas used for cultural and livelihood activities, and on community members; and 2) potential management strategies for the corridors. This report reflects opinions gathered through participatory mapping and focus group discussions with Cambridge Bay community members who were identified by the Ekaluktutiak Hunters and Trappers Organization as key knowledge holders. Analysis was aimed at understanding Inuit and northerners’ perspectives on the potential impact of marine transportation on local marine use areas and community members, and on identification of potential management strategies for the low impact shipping corridors. This report was validated by the research participants.