‘'Most of the risks to the marine environment from ship-based tourism are related to technical and operational factors’' (Geitz, 2004, 19)

 

Physical Arctic Degradation is a direct result of the expanding Cruise Tourism trade, an increasing threat to the arctic environment.

The Arctic Knowledge Hub states that there are 'numerous ways passenger ships can cause environmental harm’ (2009). The potential for oil spills as well as oil pollution from untreated bilge water on the ships is the most obvious threat and presents both short and long term impacts. In the short term the impact is more minimal and is only defined ‘acute' in its pollution of local wildlife habitats. However in the long term the accumulation of toxins can ‘contaminate coastal ecosystems and marine habitats' (Geitz, 2004, 19) which in turn would jeopardise species continuity for many wildlife populations indigenous to the region.  Not only do oil and contaminated billiage water leaks  threaten the surrounding wildlife, the clean up for such leaks is an extremely extensive and difficult process. Alongside this it is often unclear who is responsible for the clear up. Unlike the situation in the Antarctic there is no global governance treaty over the Arctic environment, therefore in the case of an oil spill it is often the nearest state or community who have the capabilities to attempt to dispose of the waste which is both unjust and at an unnecessary expense to that community.

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However, it cannot be ignored that  mass Tourism in the Arctic does offer an alternative and lucrative industry for the locals to exploit. It is also a world away from the common industrial economic opportunities for the locals, such as the fisheries and mining bases, both of which are responsible for their own charges of polluting Arctic waters. Tereza Horejsova from the Department of West European Studies in the Cody Morris Paris School of Law is of the opinion that new tourist ventures almost 'empower indigenous populations with an opportunity for economic independence that in most cases is lacking in the other developing industries in the region' (Horejsova, 2016, 7). Although she does make clear that she in no way condones Arctic Pollution for economic gain.

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With increasing clarity, it becomes obvious that to protect the longevity of the region, sustainable practices must be promoted as an alternative to the ruinous but expansive cruise tourism industry.