Topic: Shipping Environmental Impacts

How does air pollution from marine shipping accelerate climate change in the Arctic and what can be done about it?

The transport of oil by ships is no stranger to controversy. But the tempo of that debate is sure to increase as the Trans Mountain Expansion (TMX) project heads for completion at the end of 2022, with all three berths operating at full capacity later in 2023, placing any potential risks to coastal ecosystems from increased tanker traffic firmly in the public spotlight.

With more than 27,000 km of coastline that extends from Alaska to Washington State, Canada’s Pacific region is home to a rich and vibrant marine ecosystem. Thousands of sea creatures inhabit these waters, from microscopic species to large, fascinating mammals. Among them are the highly intelligent and iconic orcas, also known as killer whales.

The North Atlantic right whale, which lives and hunts in Canadian waters, is one of the most endangered species of large whales in the world.

As Canada’s international trade and the global demand for its products continues to grow, the need for anchorages, which allow ships to wait outside a harbour to unload or pick-up their cargos, has increased. This has an impact on coastal areas, the environment and on the traditional activities of Indigenous communities.

The Marine Acoustic Research Station (MARS) project aims to measure the acoustic signature of vessels transiting the St. Lawrence River to help manage the effect of ship noise on marine mammals.