Area-Based Management for Arctic Shipping Governance: An Exploratory Study

Abstract

AbstractThis chapter will conduct an exploratory study to analyse how Arctic marine traffic can be governed through area-based management and collaborative planning among the government, Indigenous peoples, and industry partners. It is expected that the Northern Low-Impact Shipping Corridors initiative can provide an opportunity for Canada to enhance safe maritime navigation while respecting Indigenous rights and taking into Indigenous perspectives. Moreover, Canada’s existing area-based management practices can provide insights into Arctic shipping governance and inform better governance of the Corridors initiative. One example to compare and examine is the Voluntary Protection Zone (VPZ) for shipping along the west coast of Haida Gwaii.Transport Canada has announced that, during the next phase of Canada’s Oceans Protection Plan, the focus of the Corridors’ development will concentrate on the following areas, namely, creating a governance framework for shipping corridors, and identifying priority areas for vessels to avoid. This chapter will identify several issues and challenges that will be encountered during the implementation and governance of the Corridors initiative. This chapter explores how these identified issues have been addressed within the VPZ through an unprecedented collaboration between the Council of the Haida Nation, the provincial and federal governments, and the maritime shipping industry. The findings will include several potential policy directions for supporting better decision-making and governance in the Corridors initiative.