A Review of the Planned Shipping Activity for the Baffinland Mary River Project: Assessing the Hazards to Marine Mammals and Migratory Birds, and Identifying Gaps in Proposed Mitigation Measures By Michèle Megannety Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Marine Management at Dalhousie University Halifax, Nova Scotia August 2011 © Michèle Megannety, 2011 i ii Dalhousie University, Marine Affairs Program Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada The undersigned hereby certify that they have read and recommend to Marine Affairs Program for acceptance a graduate research project titled “A Review of the Planned Shipping Activity for the Baffinland Mary River Project: Assessing the Hazards to Marine Mammals and Migratory Birds, and Identifying Gaps in Proposed Mitigation Measures” by Michèle Megannety in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Marine Management. Supervisor: Dr. Ron Pelot Signature: ___________________________ Dated: ____________________________ iii Dalhousie University Date: August 17, 2011 Author: Michèle Megannety School: Marine Affairs Program, Faculty of Management Degree: Master of Marine Management Convocation: October Year: 2011 ___________________________________ Signature of Author The author reserves other publication rights, and neither the graduate project nor extensive extracts from it may be printed or otherwise reproduced without the author‟s written permission. The author attests that permission has been obtained for the use of any copyrighted material appearing in the thesis (other than the brief excepts requiring only proper acknowledgement in scholarly writing), and that all such use is clearly acknowledged. iv This work is dedicated to all my friends and family who helped me along the way, but especially to my parents who have always supported and encouraged me in all my endeavours. Thank you for all your love and support. v TABLE OF CONTENTS List of Tables ........................................................................................................................................................... ix List of Figures ......................................................................................................................................................... xi Abstract ................................................................................................................................................................... xiv List of Abbreviations ......................................................................................................................................... xv Acknowledgements ........................................................................................................................................ xviii 1.0 Introduction .............................................................................................................................................. 1 1.1 Global Perspectives .................................................................................................................................... 1 1.1.1 Resource Exploitation and Marine Environmental Degradation ................................. 1 1.1.2 Climate Change, Arctic Warming, and Melting Sea Ice ..................................................... 1 1.1.3 Implications for the International Shipping Industry ........................................................ 3 1.1.4 Vulnerable Arctic Marine Environment .................................................................................... 3 1.2 The Particular Issue .................................................................................................................................... 5 1.2.1 The Mary River Project ..................................................................................................................... 5 1.2.2 Project Highlights ................................................................................................................................ 5 1.3 Objectives ....................................................................................................................................................... 8 2.0 Methodology .................................................................................................................................................. 9 2.1 Literature Review ........................................................................................................................................ 9 2.2 Species Selection .......................................................................................................................................... 9 2.3 Risk Analysis ................................................................................................................................................ 10 2.4 Risk Management ...................................................................................................................................... 12 3.0 Arctic Mineral Exploration and Extraction ................................................................................. 14 3.1 The Link Between Arctic Mining and Shipping ............................................................................. 14 3.1.1 Reliance on Marine Transportation .................................................................................................. 14 3.1.2 Bulk Transport ............................................................................................................................................ 14 3.2 Mining Within The Arctic States: The United States (US), Russia, Norway, and Greenland (Denmark) .............................................................................................................................. 15 3.3 Mining Within The Canadian Arctic ................................................................................................... 15 3.1.1 The Canadian Mining Industry ............................................................................................................ 15 3.3.2 Past and Present Projects in the Canadian North ...................................................................... 16 3.3.3 Opportunities for Nunavut .................................................................................................................... 18 vi 4.0 The Mary River Project ...................................................................................................................... 19 4.1 Background .................................................................................................................................................. 19 4.1.1 Ownership...................................................................................................................................................... 19 4.1.2 Current Status ............................................................................................................................................. 20 4.2 Project Overview ....................................................................................................................................... 21 4.3 Proposed Shipping Activity ................................................................................................................... 22 4.3.1 Steensby Port ............................................................................................................................................... 22 4.3.2 Icebreaking Ore-Carriers ....................................................................................................................... 23 4.3.3 Shipping Routes .......................................................................................................................................... 24 5.0 Potential Shipping Hazards To Wildlife ................................................................................... 31 5.1 Consequences of Increased Ship Traffic ........................................................................................... 31 5.2 Potential Threats ....................................................................................................................................... 31 5.2.1 Direct Threats .............................................................................................................................................. 31 5.2.1 Indirect Threats and Other Exclusions ............................................................................................ 32 5.3 Pollution ........................................................................................................................................................ 33 5.4 Disturbance .................................................................................................................................................. 34 5.4.1 Vessel Strikes ................................................................................................................................................ 34 5.4.2 Noise Disturbance ...................................................................................................................................... 34 5.4.3 Icebreakers and Habitat Disturbance .............................................................................................. 35 5.4.4 Light Disturbance ...................................................................................................................................... 36 6.0 Key Habitat Sites ..................................................................................................................................