Research Document 2020/032

Ecological and Biophysical Overview of the Southampton proposed Area of Interest for the Southampton Island Ecologically and Biologically Significant Area

By Loewen, T. N., Hornby, C.A., Johnson, M., Chambers, C., Dawson, K., MacDonell, D., Bernhardt, W., Gnanapragasam, R., and Choy, E.

Abstract

The Government of Canada has committed to protect 10% of its coastal and marine areas. One means of protection is through the development of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). In Nunavut, Regional Inuit Associations along with other stakeholders provided guidance to identify potential Areas of Interest (AOI) for a Marine Protected Area process. In the Kivalliq Region of Nunavut, the marine waters adjacent to Southampton Island (SI) were identified as one AOI. The Southampton Island Ecologically and Biologically Significant Area (SI EBSA) provides valuable migratory habitat for Beluga (Delphinapterus leucas), Bowhead (Balaena mysticetus)  and Narwhal (Monodon monoceros), as well as feeding and calving areas for a proportion of these marine mammal populations. The SI EBSA is home to large aggregations of seabirds such as the two colonies of Thick-Billed Murres (Uria lomvia) on Coats Island and the largest single colony of Common Eiders (Somateria mollissima) in Nunavut. Resident marine mammals to the SI EBSA include Walrus (Odobenus rosmarus) and Polar Bear (Ursus maritimus) populations. In addition, migratory Arctic Char (Salvelinus alpinus) are the most abundant salmonid that is available for subsistence harvesting to Inuit communities living adjacent to the SI EBSA. The recurring polynya in Roes Welcome Sound provides approximately 52 km2 of open water during winter and is believed to play an important role in deep water formation and nutrient cycling in Hudson Bay, which may support high benthic productivity, and in turn large numbers of migrating birds and marine mammals. The polynya also provides valuable overwintering habitat for Walruses, Bearded Seals (Erignathus barbatus), and small numbers of Belugas in some years. This document provides a summary and synthesis of existing information relevant to the SI EBSA which has been used to determine its ecological significance, as well as known knowledge gaps and vulnerabilities.

Research Document 2020/032 (PDF, 4.52 MB)

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