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Qikiqtait study area

The Qikiqtait study area is being proposed as a future Marine Protected Area under the Oceans Act. The public comment period on the proposed regulations is now open.

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Qikiqtait study area (Inuktitut)

Qikiqtait study area (Inuktitut) (PDF, 281 KB)

At-a-glance

Map of Qikiqtait study area

Map of Qikiqtait study area

Location

Qikiqtait comprises the waters surrounding the Belcher Islands of southeastern Hudson Bay. The entire boundary of the proposed Qikiqtait Marine Protected Area (MPA) falls within the Nunavut Settlement Area (NSA). It also includes the:

The proposed boundaries of Qikiqtait are adjacent to the community of Sanikiluaq. Sanikiluaq is the most southern community within the Qikiqtani region of Nunavut Canada.

Size

About 42,789 km2

% of Canada's ocean territory

About 0.74%

Date identified

In February 2023, the Government of Canada identified Qikiqtait as a marine area under consideration for conservation.

Ecological and cultural importance

Qikiqtait is located in an area that is used by Inuit for travel and harvesting. This culturally and historically significant marine area is considered globally, nationally and regionally unique due to the presence of a recurrent polynya system and a diverse array of marine species, such as:

A polynya is an area of thin ice and open water surrounded by thicker pack ice, which returns on a periodic basis. Large river plumes and estuaries bring nutrient-rich water to the Qikiqtait region. Strong upwelling is another source of nutrients in this region. Upwelling occurs when winds blow surface waters away and allow nutrient-rich water from deeper layers to rise toward the surface. This nutrient rich region acts as a feeding and calving area for marine mammals. This makes Qikiqtait a unique and important habitat for marine species.

Qikiqtait is an area of particular ecological importance due to the presence of up to 35 recurrent polynyas that are due to:

Source: A Regional Conservation Approach 2022

These polynyas are key habitats for polar bears, sea birds and seals, beluga and Atlantic walrus populations and are vital for feeding during winter. Qikiqtait also has some of the coldest summer sea-surface temperatures in coastal Hudson Bay south of Southampton Island, suggesting strong vertical mixing that sustains high primary productivity.

Arctic temperatures are rising faster than the global average, with significant negative effects to sea ice. The Arctic marine environment surrounding Qikiqtait is entering a new state where the open water season is greatly increasing in duration. Effective protection of areas supporting unique Arctic biodiversity, such as the one found in Qikiqtait, will maximize the resilience of Arctic ecosystems and help maintain critical habitat for a number of important species, such as:

The species found in Qikiqtait are known to be significant components of the Arctic ecosystem due to their role in maintaining ecosystem health. Data pertaining to sea-ice composition and associated biota in this region are limited.

The Hudson Bay subspecies of Common Eiders (S.m. sedentaria) are known to almost exclusively breed, forage and overwinter within the proposed Qikiqtait MPA, making them unique to the area. Within the community of Sanikiluaq, large sustainably managed fall harvest of Common Eiders provides community members with eider down, displaying the importance of this seabird species.

The seafloor of the proposed Qikiqtait MPA harbours a diverse benthic community, heavily influenced by river runoff and seasonal ice cover. The polynyas in the Belcher Islands have amongst the highest biomass values and taxonomic richness in the Hudson Bay Complex (Pierrejean et al. 2020) particularly for scallops, sea urchins and sea cucumbers.

Effective protection of areas supporting unique Arctic biodiversity, such as the one found in Qikiqtait, will maximize the resilience of Arctic ecosystems and help maintain critical habitat for a number of species. Qikiqtait is located in an area that is central for Inuit harvesting and food security. The presence of a recurrent biologically important polynya system occurring during the winter months, ensures that the Inuit always have a place to fish and hunt year-round.

Conservation approach

History

In 2019, the community of Sanikiluaq established the Sanikiluaq Qikiqtait Steering Committee. The committee's primary focus is to develop marine and terrestrial environmental protection in Qikiqtait.

In September 2021, the Government of Canada, the Government of Nunavut and the Qikiqtani Inuit Association decided to establish a combined working group for Qikiqtait and Sarvarjuaq.

In 2022, the Qikiqtani Inuit Association published the Regional Conservation Approach, which named Qikiqtait as a Marine Area for Conservation.

In December 2022, the Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced up to $800 million over 7 years, starting in 2023 to 2024, to support up to 4 Indigenous-led conservation initiatives. One of the 4 key areas announced was the Qikiqtani Region in Nunavut.

In 2023, the Government of Canada identified Qikiqtait as a study area under consideration for conservation.

The Qikiqtani Inuit Association, the Government of Canada and the Government of Nunavut are working together to explore marine conservation for Qikiqtait, focusing on Inuit-led conservation and stewardship.

Working together

Representatives from QIA, the Government of Nunavut and the Government of Canada (represented by Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), Environment and Climate Change Canada and Transport Canada) have come together in a working group to discuss potential approaches to move marine conservation forward for the Qikiqtait and Sarvarjuaq study areas. To advance marine protection of the Qikiqtait and Sarvarjuaq areas, the main goals of the working group are to:

Specifically, the working group oversees the processes required to consider short-term protection of Qikiqtait and Sarvarjuaq through the designation of 2 Marine Protected Areas by Ministerial Order established under the Oceans Act. This tool can be used as a first step on the path towards identifying long-term management and conservation needs for Qikiqtait.

An MPA by Ministerial Order is designed to protect areas in the short-term – up to 5 years – by freezing the footprint of activities that have occurred during the 12 months prior to establishment. If the area is designated, freezing the footprint means that activities already underway (or that received authorizations) within that 12-month period may continue within the MPA, but no new activities are allowed. This also provides more time to develop our understanding of the ecosystem and community priorities for the region while ensuring no new impacts caused by human activities are introduced to the area. Most importantly, it provides more time to learn how Inuit want to conserve, protect and manage the area for the long term. The Government of Canada will work collaboratively with Inuit and northern partners to consider long term protection priorities, including supporting an Inuit-led Protected and Conserved Area (IPCA).

As the partners work together, DFO remains committed that all rights and responsibilities through the Nunavut Agreement will be respected throughout this process. Any federal protection measure established in Qikiqtait would be consistent with the Nunavut Agreement and would be subject to an Inuit Impact and Benefit Agreement.

Involving local communities

Sanikiluaq is the only Nunavut community adjacent to Qikiqtait. Qikiqtait and Sarvarjuaq Working Group members visited Sanikiluaq to conduct consultation regarding Qikiqtait in October 2023 and April 2024. Meetings were held with representatives of local organizations, such as the Sanikiluaq Qikiqtait Steering Committee, Hunters and Trappers Association, the Hamlet Council and the Arctic Eider Society. Public meetings were also held during both rounds of consultations. Opportunities for feedback, concerns and questions were provided.

Communications were provided to stakeholders and adjacent communities outside of Nunavut for awareness and input.

Next steps

The Government of Canada and the Qikiqtani Inuit Association are negotiating an Inuit Impact and Benefit Agreement for Qikiqtait and another study area called Sarvarjuaq, which is the Canadian side of the Pikialasorsuaq (or North Water Polynya) located in northern Baffin Bay. While negotiations are underway, DFO is gathering information about the area and working with communities, industry and partners to better understand the region.

Publications

Contact us

Feel free to email any questions to DFO.ArcticMPC-ArctiquePCM.MPO@dfo-mpo.gc.ca.

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