A new project is launching this year that aims to better understand and reduce impacts from underwater noise in the Canadian Arctic.

The Arctic is home to abundant wildlife that Inuit communities rely on, including narwhal, beluga, and other marine mammals. Many of these species use sound to hunt, communicate and navigate. As the Arctic opens to increased vessel traffic, it is important to understand how the underwater sound environment is being affected—as well as how best to minimize impacts on animals and on the communities that harvest them.

The primary goals of the program are to measure underwater noise, create noise prediction maps, and improve mitigation strategies for Arctic communities and ship operators. To achieve these goals, expedition cruise operators and researchers will measure and map noise from individual ships under different operating conditions. This information will help operators and communities better understand potential noise impacts on Arctic marine species. The program will also expand collaboration among Inuit resource managers, research partners, and the marine transportation sector.

In-person and virtual meetings are planned to strengthen partnerships, support the co-development of all program components, and ensure that results are shared in ways that are accessible, actionable, and tailored to the needs of specific stakeholders.

The current partners in the project are Oceans North, the Association of Arctic Expedition Cruise Operators (AECO), and the University of California San Diego (UC San Diego). “The project that we’re working on is really about trying to understand the impacts of underwater noise on marine wildlife, particularly in the Eastern Canadian Arctic,” says Joshua Jones, an oceanographer at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego who is helping lead the research.

AECO’s involvement includes evaluating noise-reducing operational measures, developing mitigation strategies, and sharing findings with the industry. “This project allows us to better understand the impact of underwater noise in the Arctic and develop effective mitigation measures with our members. It supports our ongoing commitment to promoting sustainable cruise tourism,” says Melissa Nacke, AECO’s Head of Operations.

Local and regional Inuit resource managers will also be key collaborators on this project. While managing a busier Arctic benefits everyone, it is important that the needs and interests of the people who are most affected by these changes are driving the questions and objectives of the research, explains Amanda Joynt, Senior Policy Advisor at Oceans North. “As Arctic marine traffic increases, the project will help us to better implement proper marine spatial planning, with communities at the center.”

With a total funding of over 450,000 CAD from Fisheries and Oceans Canada through the Oceans Management Contribution Program, the project is set to continue through March 2026.