AFE 2022: Crossing the Line: Increase in Shipping Traffic Threatens the Bering Strait

As sea ice retreats, the open water season at northern latitudes is lengthening. The expansion of maritime activity presents new elevated risks to Arctic ecosystems from oil spills, groundings, and collisions to increased water, air, and noise pollution. The only marine gateway between the Arctic and the Pacific Ocean is the Bering Strait. This transboundary region is one of the Arctic’s most biologically productive environments and a vital migratory corridor. The rapid development of oil and LNG projects in West Siberia only strengthen the economic connection between the Northern Sea Route and international shipping. This session highlights the data on increased shipping in the Far North, calls attention to the challenges this may represent for the biodiversity of the Arctic, especially the Bering Strait region, and suggests a variety of measures to minimize and prevent the risks. If you are interested in shipping traffic risks in the Arctic, then this session is for you!

Presenters:
Inga Banshchikova, World Wildlife Fund, US Arctic Program
Alexey Knizhnikov, World Wildlife Fund-Russia

Moderator: Kyle Newman, World Wildlife Fund US Arctic Program