Arctic governance

Arctic shipping noise demands calibrated governance for marine life and Indigenous communities

Arctic shipping noise is not a uniform problem, so it cannot have a uniform solution. Existing mitigation measures, source-based technical fixes, routing changes, speed reductions, produce uneven outcomes depending on ship type, ice conditions, and ecological timing. Governance remains fragmented, with costs falling on shipowners while benefits spread across ecosystems and communities. We recommend a polycentric pathway that coordinates scientific and Indigenous knowledge through existing regional processes while pursuing ship-source measures through the IMO, Arctic States, and ports.