Science Response 2018/055

Mitigation Buffer Zones for Atlantic Walrus (Odobenus rosmarus rosmarus) in the Nunavut Settlement Area

Context

The Nunavut Planning Commission (NPC) is responsible for developing, implementing and monitoring land use plans to guide and direct resource use and development in the Nunavut Settlement Area (NSA). The NPC, with input from government, Inuit organizations and other stakeholders, has been developing a Draft Nunavut Land Use Plan (Plan) that, when finalized, will apply to the entire NSA, with the exception of National Marine Conservation Areas and some parks and historic sites. The Plan will be the entry point for impact assessments and regulatory approval processes for proposed projects, both of industry and government. In accordance with the Nunavut Agreement, any vessel or aerial setbacks that may be included in an approved Plan would not restrict the Inuit right to subsistence land use or harvest of wildlife.

To date, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) has provided the NPC with some information on Atlantic walrus presence and sensitive walrus habitat in the NSA and Outer Land Fast Ice Zone. DFO has not provided information that might guide measures to avoid and/or mitigate disturbance of walrus and their important habitat from project activities, including shipping. Such information would inform land use planning designations and conditions of use for those areas and/or other mitigation measures outside of the land use plan.

As a first step to providing this information, the Policy and Economics Branch, which leads departmental input into the draft Plan, has requested science advice to identify important walrus habitat and areas of aggregation in the NSA, including the Outer Land Fast Ice Zone; provide information about acceptable noise levels to walrus at haul-out sites and identify mitigation measures, including buffer zone recommendations, to minimize disturbance of walrus from ships, small watercraft and aircraft.

The objectives of this Science Advisory Process are to:

1. identify important ice habitat for walrus and any known walrus terrestrial haul-out sites (occupied, abandoned, and abandoned/reoccupied) within the NSA;
2. provide information about walrus responses to disturbances and if possible, provide information from the literature on acceptable noise levels for walrus at haul-out locations;
3. identify recommendations for buffer zones at haul-out sites to minimize disturbance of walrus from a) large ships (e.g., cargo, re-supply, cruise and research ships); b) ice-breakers; and c) smaller watercraft (e.g., zodiacs, kayaks, launch vessels);
4. recommend a minimum vertical setback for aircraft from haul-out sites; and,
5. identify whether there are seasonal considerations for the recommended mitigations.

This Science Response Report results from the Science Response Process held July 24, 2018 on the Mitigation Buffer Zones for Atlantic Walrus (Odobenus rosmarus rosmarus) in the Nunavut Settlement Area.

Complete document (PDF, 1,257 KB)

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