ABSTRACT
The Arctic is a fragile ecosystem that risks being impacted by the increase in navigation in this part of the world. Various species of marine mammals live at these latitudes; some populations are sedentary while others migrate according to the seasons for different reasons such as reproduction, food search, etc. To better understand the potential impact of ships on these living beings, the work focuses on studying certain species of marine mammals living in the Arctic to understand their lifestyle, migration seasons, and more. The chosen species are orcas, belugas, bowhead whales, and narwhals.
Subsequently, it is important to understand the Arctic ecosystem as a whole, highlighting its various vulnerabilities. This made it possible to show that the increasing density of ships will not be insignificant for this environment. In a second part, different sources of pollution and their impacts on this ecosystem were studied. The pollution sources considered include noise, water pollution, and the introduction of invasive species. At the end of this study, it appeared that marine mammals could be affected in various ways by the maritime industry. If this industry continues to develop in high latitudes without protective measures being implemented by international organizations, this could have irreversible consequences for cetacean populations in the Arctic.
Next, the distribution areas of the different cetacean species considered were analyzed more thoroughly, resulting in a global map representing the habitats of marine mammals in the Arctic.
Finally, using this map, an analysis of an already existing Arctic maritime route, the Maritime North Road, was carried out. It was concluded that this route poses a threat to these cetaceans. That is why several alternative routes were proposed. This could make usable routes for future navigation in this part of the world. This work therefore presents viable solutions. Indeed, it allows for maximum protection of the marine mammals living in the Arctic while maintaining the economic benefits that this part of the globe represents.