Adaptation Actions for a Changing Arctic: Perspectives from the Barents Area

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Chapter 6 · Impact analysis and consequences of change

Box 6.4 Areas of heightened ecological and cultural significance Oil spills are considered to represent the main threat to the marine environment, both from oil and gas activities and marine shipping (AMAP, 2007, 2010; AMAP/CAFF/SDWG, 2013). Tourism and transport represent additional threats. Ecologically important areas that are particularly vulnerable to oil spills and disturbance were identified in the recentArctic Marine Shipping Assessment (AMAP/CAFF/SDWG, 2013). Ten areas of heightened ecological significance and sensitivity were defined in the Barents Sea (Figure 6.8). These areas comprised a total of 43 subareas.The subareas were identified based on review and evaluation of data mainly for higher trophic levels (fish, birds, marine mammals). They include areas where large numbers of individuals from one or several species aggregate during migrations or during certain times of the year for purposes such as breeding, spawning, feeding, staging, molting and are thus vulnerable to the impacts of shipping and traffic (oil spills, noise, physical disturbance).

Use of such areas by animals is characterized by a strong seasonality. Sensitivity and increased ecological importance often occur during only one to two months of the year. Sensitivity to oil spills and disturbance from ship traffic varies widely between areas, depending on the density and distribution of the animals. Because ice availability is often the most significant determinant for the presence and high density of animals, the physical boundaries for some areas vary from year-to-year depending on weather and ice conditions.The location of particular areas may also shift in response to climate change. Owing to expanding marine traffic, knowledge of areas of increased ecological sensitivity must be taken into account in planning for shipping routes as well as other types of transport and for oil and gas development projects. Such information would also be useful in responding to extreme events such as oil spills.

Barents Sea Mammals:

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Figure 6.8 Ten areas of heightened ecological significance in the Barents Sea LME (AMAP/CAFF/ SDWG, 2013).

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effects in marine ecosystems. Acoustic pollution is considered a serious ecological threat in the marine environment at the regional and global level (IWC, 2006; OSPAR, 2009). The most significant threat to the marine environment from shipping is the accidental or illegal discharge of oil (AMAP, 2007; AMAP/CAFF/SDWG, 2013) (see Boxes 6.3 and 6.4, and Section 6.3.5). Longer navigation seasons (as sea ice declines) could have several consequences for the marine environment, including increased risk of introducing non-indigenous

the zone of direct seismic impact (up to 5 m from the source) could reach 1% of the local population. Low-frequency seismic impulses travel easily through seawater and can exceed the acoustic background level at a distance tens of kilometers from the source. Due to their reliance on long distance acoustic communication, bowhead whales ( Balaena mysticetus ) are potentially vulnerable to increased levels of oceannoise fromship traffic and oil and gas activity (Reeves et al.,2014).In combination with other sources of anthropogenic sound in the Barents area (especially shipping), seismic surveys could have cumulative