Increased maritime traffic in the Arctic: Implications for governance of Arctic sea routes

Abstract

Climate change is producing maritime navigation opportunities in the Arctic. Melting sea ice in the summer months is increasing shipping and other vessel traffic. A well-developed body of literature investigates the viability of the two main shipping routes: the Northern Sea Route (NSR) and Northwest Passage (NWP). This article explores the impact increased maritime traffic will have on the governance of these routes. Despite lying within the Arctic region, each route has its own geophysical, legal, and political features that will shape the character of its governance regime. The NSR lies within Russia’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Although international reconciliation on the level of authority that Russia should have over the NSR is preferable, the route’s future political viability is not at risk as much as the NWP’s. Russia has long exerted, and will continue to exert, control over the NSR in accordance with its established governance system and in the name of environmental stewardship. In contrast, the legal status of the NWP in the Canadian archipelago, currently debated, will continue to be important to resolve as traffic increases. The viability of the NWP rests on international agreement, particularly since the entire route passes through the EEZs of multiple countries – the United States, Canada, and the Kingdom of Denmark. Russia exerts authority over NSR traffic regardless of legal and political contentions, while Canada does not exercise a similar level of control over the NWP due to the ongoing conflict over the legal status of the route.