The Arctic Corridors Research Project

Arctic shipping traffic in Canada has almost tripled since 1990. In response, the Government of Canada has embarked on a project under the Oceans Protection Plan to develop a network of low-impact marine transportation corridors in the Arctic that encourages marine transportation traffic to use routes that pose less risk and minimize the impact on communities and the environment. The Low Impact Shipping Corridors will be a framework to guide future federal investments to support marine navigation safety in the North, including improved charting and increased hydrography, in partnership with Northerners. The Arctic Corridors Research Project developed a long-term geo-spatial ship track database (1990- present) for Arctic Canada, documented Inuit-identified Culturally Significant Marine Areas (CSMAs), and identified potential management strategies for the low impact shipping corridors.