A traditional hunter in the Northwest Territories says he used to welcome the cruise ships coming into the Beaufort Sea in Canada鈥檚 Arctic.
But Hans Lennie from Inuvik says that鈥檚 changing.
鈥淣ot as much now. Now that we鈥檝e got all the facts,鈥� said Lennie, who also sits on the Inuvialuit Game Council, which manages wildlife and wildlife habitat in the region.
Some of his concerns are highlighted in a new report about untreated grey water being dumped by ships passing through.
The study commissioned by World Wildlife Fund Canada said the amount of grey water 鈥� drainage from sinks, laundry machines, bath tubs, shower stalls or dishwashers 鈥� could double by 2035 if laws aren鈥檛 improved.
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鈥淚t鈥檚 pretty alarming,鈥� said Melissa Nacke of the wildlife conservation group. 鈥淭hese concentration areas are overlapping with important species habitat and important cultural areas.鈥�
The number of ships travelling in northern waters is expected to increase as climate change melts sea ice. The study suggests tourism will be the biggest source of grey water dumping by 2035.
鈥淚f you think of shower or laundry water, it contains detergent and soaps and shampoos,鈥� said Nacke. 鈥淚t also has really high levels of nutrients 鈥� and can have things like oil and grease. It can have metals, food particles and, because of the laundry, it can also have microplastics.鈥�
Nacke said those materials can contaminate shellfish and cause large algae blooms that create dead zones in the ocean.
The report noted that could have repercussions for food security in northern communities 鈥� a conclusion that only adds to Lennie鈥檚 concerns.
鈥淚t鈥檚 totally detrimental,鈥� said Lennie. 鈥淭hese ships, their grey water is all their cleaning material. That鈥檚 pretty toxic stuff.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a nurturing grounds. All the marine life. All the invertebrates that the whales feed on. It involves the waterfowl too. It definitely has an impact on the food chain.鈥�
Both the report and locals like Lennie say federal and international regulations are necessary.
鈥淲e need something. Right now we have nothing,鈥� he said. 鈥淎nything we do is better than nothing.鈥�
Lennie said the Inuvialuit Game Council has been meeting with the federal government.
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Officials with Transport Canada said they are reviewing the report.
鈥淐anada regulates shipping within Canadian Arctic waters,鈥� said an emailed statement from the department. 鈥漈he regulations address many aspects of Arctic shipping, including requirements for vessel construction and operation, training of crew members, the presence of ice navigators on board, fire safety and life-saving.鈥�
But the statement acknowledged there are no provisions related to grey water.
Different rules are in place for southern Canadian waters. The regulations require passenger vessels built after 2013 and carrying more than 500 passengers to use an onboard marine sanitation device before releasing grey water.
The U.S. government and the state of Alaska have regulations related to grey water from ships.
鈥淧art of that was because cruise ships spend a lot of time in Alaska,鈥� said Ed White, cruise ship program manager with Alaska鈥檚 Department of Environmental Conservation. 鈥淧art of it was the size of the ships, too, which were much larger than the communities they were travelling to. That created a lot public concern.鈥�
White said the major worry was linked to bacteria from food waste or laundry, but officials had also found toxic materials such as dry cleaning chemicals and mercury.
鈥淲e don鈥檛 see that anymore.鈥�
That鈥檚 due to stricter regulations, he said, including inspections on ships and a move to stop using some toxic materials.
Nacke said high standards in Alaska make it more important for grey water discharge to be regulated in Canada鈥檚 northern waters.
鈥淐ruise ships that go around Alaska 鈥� can literally use Canada as a dumping ground,鈥� she said.
Lennie said he hopes there are some regulations sooner rather than later.
鈥淭his is a new travel destination,鈥� he said. 鈥�(Tourists) want to see the untouched wilderness, but there鈥檚 a cost to it.鈥�
鈥� By Colette Derworiz in Edmonton.
The Canadian Press
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