Shipping in the north-east Atlantic:identifying spatial and temporal patterns of change

• Published in: Marine Pollution Bulletin
• Main Authors: Robbins, James R., Bouchet, Phil J., Miller, David L., Evans, Peter G.H., Waggitt, James, Ford, Alex T., Marley, Sarah A.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 2022
• Subjects: Marine conservation; Marine protected area; Maritime traffic; Automatic identification system; Vessel density; Generalized additive model; North East Atlantic
• Online Access: https://research-portal.st-andrews.ac.uk/en/researchoutput/shipping-in-the-northeast-atlantic(521bc781-11d1-4e76-b7df-09cd71508d05).html; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.113681; https://research-repository.st-andrews.ac.uk/bitstream/10023/25426/1/Robbins_2022_MPB_Shipping_in_the_NE_Atlantic_CC.pdf

Maritime traffic is increasing globally, with a four-fold increase in commercial vessel movements between 1992 and 2012. Vessels contribute to noise and air pollution, provide pathways for non-native species, and collide with marine wildlife. While knowledge of shipping trends and potential environmental impacts exists at both local and global levels, key information on vessel density for regional-scale management is lacking. This study presents the first in-depth spatio-temporal analysis of shipping in the north-east Atlantic region, over three years in a five-year period. Densities increased by 34%, including in 73% of Marine Protected Areas. Western Scotland and the Bay of Biscay experienced the largest increases in vessel density, predominantly from small and slow vessels. Given well-documented impacts that shipping can have on the marine environment, it is crucial that this situation continues to be monitored – particularly in areas designated to protect vulnerable species and ecosystems which may already be under pressure.