The environmental risk of arttic shiping

New York Times Article:
June 29, 2009, 8:01 am The Environmental Risks of Arctic Shipping
By Stefan Milkowski

Reuters

Whales in the Bering Strait between Alaska and Russia could be disturbed by an expected increase in shipping.As the Arctic warms, an expected increase in shipping threatens to introduce invasive species, harm existing marine wildlife and lead to damaging oil spills, according to a recent report from the Arctic Council, an intergovernmental forum of Arctic nations.

Seabirds and polar bear and seal pups are particularly sensitive to oil and can quickly die of hypothermia if it gets into their feathers or fur, according to the report. Whales, as well as walruses and seals, can have a harder time communicating, foraging and avoiding prey in noisy waters.

“Whether it is the release of substances through emissions to air or discharges to water, accidental release of oil or hazardous cargo, disturbances of wildlife through sound, sight, collisions or the introduction of invasive alien species, the Arctic marine environment is especially vulnerable to potential impacts from marine activity,” the report states.


As the climate changes, reductions in sea ice are likely to lengthen the shipping season, putting migrating animals into more frequent contact with ships. Bow head and beluga whales share a narrow corridor with ships in the Bering Strait between Alaska and Russia and could be disturbed.

There is also greater risk of introducing invasive species through ballast water, cargo, or on ships’ hulls. “Introduction of rodent species to islands harboring nesting seabirds, as evidenced in the Aleutian Islands, can be devastating,” the report states. Shipping between the North Pacific and the North Atlantic is of particular concern, because it could transport species between areas with similar environmental conditions.

The Arctic Marine Shipping Assessment, as the study is called, was put together by Arctic Council nations, including the United States, and serves as a formal policy document, according to Lawson Brigham, a University of Alaska Fairbanks professor and retired Coast Guard captain, who chaired the study and presented it last week in Fairbanks.

It recommends that Arctic nations reduce emissions of greenhouse gases and other air pollutants from ships, work to lower the risk of oil spills, and consider setting aside special areas of the Arctic Ocean for environmental protection, among other things.

Mr. Brigham described an Arctic bustling with activity, where ice-breaking ships with special hulls sail stern-first through heavy ice and a shipping route across the top of the Earth is not out of the question.

“It’s not a question of whether the maritime industry is coming to the Arctic,” he said. It has, he added, already come.

Discussion:
The article shows a picture of whales in Alaska an Russia that could be disturbed by distribution of oil.
Also describing the hazards to animals such as whales, polar bears,sea birds,an seals.
Due to the disintegration of polar ice an ice let alone, it causes the shipping season to be even longer, causing more contact with marine animals during migration.
another Strong problem is the transportation's of animals on the boats, while there transporting oil an cargo back an forth to different islands on the Aleutians chain an different continents.
The study of the shipment assessment, as it was called in the article was put together by Arctic Nation council. They were recommended to reduce green House gases an other pollutions from ships, an reduce the risk of oil spills. An also that they should put aside a part of the Arctic Ocean for protecting the environment an animals.
an a comment was made buy Mr. Brigham about the article shown.