One of the most biologically productive marine areas in the Arctic. The largest Arctic polynya provides open water year round and ice edge habitats that are critical for seabirds, sea ducks and many marine mammals, including narwhals and most of the endangered eastern population of bowhead whales.

When a decision is made to proceed with the NMCA, Parks Canada, the Qikiqtani Inuit Association and the Government of Nunavut will need to develop an interim management plan, including the identification of fully protected core zones as required under the NMCA legislation, and negotiate an Inuit Impact and Beneļ¬t Agreement. To date an ecological and mineral and energy resource assessments, together with a traditional knowledge study have been completed. Last year Parks Canada and the Inuit requested feedback from key stakeholders, including CPAWS.

Photo credit: Glenn Williams

32