Narwhals are mysterious Arctic cetaceans whose welfare faces threats from sea ice loss, hunting pressure, and increasing vessel disturbance in their changing habitat.
Narwhal welfare is threatened by the combined stressors of a rapidly changing Arctic environment. Their extreme sensitivity to disturbance means that vessel noise and human presence trigger severe stress responses that can be fatal. Climate-driven sea ice loss reduces the refugia that narwhals depend on for protection from predators and disturbance. As Arctic shipping routes open, narwhals face chronic noise pollution and collision risk in habitat previously inaccessible to heavy vessel traffic. Arctic protected areas with shipping restrictions represent critical welfare and conservation interventions.