Page 51 - living-ice

ILL.: REIBO
The political ice edge
Knowledge on ice extent, thickness and stability is essential for manoeuvring vessels and operating installations in the Arctic Ocean. When sea ice melts new transportation routes become accessible and permanent installations are possible.
The ‘ice edge’ is not a distinct line; instead it is always a transitional zone between open water and increasing concentrations of ice. However, despite this reality, there is a need to de ne the ice edge for political and administrative purposes, e.g. in relation to the exploitation of biological resources, minerals, oil and gas in the Arctic. When the Norwegian government wanted to announce new lease blocks for oil and gas close to the ice-covered part of the Barents Sea in 2015, the originally de ned, political ice edge was moved 70 km further north. Around the same time, the Canadian govern- ment moved its ice edge 200 km further south. It is obvious that the position of the ‘of cial’ ice edge is not only determined by its actual physical location, but also by political considerations. Even though the ice edge has been retreating, researchers and environmentalists recommend the precautionary principle be applied so that commercial activity only moves farther north when this can be justi ed.