No-go zones help ships steer clear of dangerous waters and important marine habitat. These waters are officially called “Areas to be Avoided” or ATBAs.
Three new ATBAs were set up around islands in the Bering Strait region in 2018.
Two-way shipping routes through the Bering Strait help prevent accidents by encouraging ships to travel through well-charted waters offshore.
One of these Areas to be Avoided is located near St. Lawrence Island which is home to about 1,300 Siberian Yupik people in two communities.
For generations, community members have hunted walrus, whales, seals and other marine mammals as part of their subsistence way of life.
Off the island’s southern coast, a polynya, or area of open water surrounded by sea ice, provides important winter habitat for this wildlife.
In light of increasing vessel traffic in this region, the International Maritime Organization established ATBAs to help ships avoid dangerous coastlines and shallow waters, protect marine wildlife from impacts associated with large vessels, and help ensure local residents can pursue subsistence hunting and fishing without interference from large commercial ships.
Two-way vessel traffic routes, also called routing measures, promote marine safety by avoiding dangerous waters, lessening the chance of oil spills or other accidents.
Without designated lanes, ships could wander into critical habitat used by marine mammals and seabirds, causing environmental impacts.
Click image for more information.
“Improving shipping safety will help protect the Bering Strait for future generations.”
