UN Agency Takes Steps to Reduce Underwater Shipping Noise That Impacts Marine Life

The International Maritime Organization (IMO), a United Nations agency responsible for the safety and security of global shipping and the prevention of pollution by the industry, is revising 2014 guidelines for commercial ships in order to reduce underwater noise that threatens some marine species. The IMO is revising the 2014 Guidelines for the Control of Underwater Noise from Commercial Shipping to reduce the impact of noise on marine life.

The Inuit peoples of Canada, the United States, Greenland, and Chukotka have long depended on marine animals for their livelihoods and culture. In recent years, they have pushed for greater protection of these animals.

Lisa Koperqualuk, president of the Inuit Circumpolar Council, said that she and her colleagues came out of recent meetings feeling encouraged. The Council had been pushing for stricter measures to reduce underwater noise in the Arctic, and while they didn't succeed in getting an Arctic-specific annex included in the revised guidelines, the Indigenous inclusions are still a positive step.

As the effects of climate change open the global Arctic to more shipping traffic, scientists are increasingly turning to Inuit expertise to gauge the potential risks and opportunities for development in this sensitive region. While economic opportunities may arise for some Indigenous communities, there is also a potential for negative impacts on Arctic habitats. By working with Inuit experts, scientists hope to gain a better understanding of how to protect this unique and fragile environment.

As more vessels arrive in the Arctic, Inuit people are noticing changes in the behavior of animals, including migration and reproduction patterns. Some marine species, like ringed seals and narwhals, are of particular importance to Arctic communities.

The new guidelines provide recommendations for commercial ships to reduce noise, including optimizing propeller and hull design, reducing speed, adjusting routes to minimize travel through sensitive areas, and proper maintenance. While they apply to global shipping, the revisions note the potential for noise-sensitive species in the Arctic to be affected, along with the Inuit who live there.

The IMO has revised its guidelines to include additional efforts to reduce impacts on marine wildlife in areas where ships operate. This includes paying particular attention to reducing noise impact from icebreaking and implementing operational approaches and monitoring.

The Arctic is a place of great beauty and tranquility. It is a place where you can find peace and quiet.

Meanwhile, icebreakers and ships capable of traversing the region are likely to create more noise pollution. A report from Protection of the Arctic Marine Environment (PAME) found that noise pollution from ships more than doubled in some parts of the Arctic between 2013 and 2019.

Some Arctic marine animals may have evolved better hearing to navigate under thick ice than their relatives elsewhere. According to a report, underwater noise in some parts of the Arctic is already at levels that are likely interfering with the abilities of whales, seals, and walrus to communicate and use sound. As sea ice continues to diminish, shipping and underwater noise will grow.

The Inuit council also argued for mandatory, rather than voluntary, rules. There was some openness in the room to that need, but it’s a “difficult discussion,” Koperqualuk said. The council gained consultative status at the IMO in 2021, and the next step is to make its status permanent, she added.

The Inuit in Canada were successful in opposing a major mining expansion proposal by Baffinland Iron Mines last year due to their concern that increased shipping of iron ore would disrupt narwhal behavior.