NUNAVUT - Parks Canada is negotiating with the Qikiqtani Inuit Association and the Government of Nunavut to establish a protected area in Lancaster Sound, north of Baffin Island.

"We're hoping to bring those discussions to a close soon," said Kevin McNamee, director of park establishment with Parks Canada.

McNamee said the region is considered "representative" of the Arctic ecosystem, and the year-round open water of the polynyas - gaps in the sea ice - is attractive to migratory birds, as well as seals and whales. Out of 29 marine regions across Canada's Arctic, Atlantic, Pacific and Great Lakes' waters, "Lancaster Sound is one that stands out on its own," he said.

Niore Iqalukjuak, a hunter from Arctic Bay, said Lancaster Sound was also the source of country food for his community. Ikpiarjummiut harvesters hunt seals there after freeze-up, and narwhals and beluga during their seasonal migration in spring. But without much shelter from the wind, there's not much hunting in the depth of winter.

Lancaster Sound is part of the Northwest Passage. The U.S. and parts of Europe say the area is international waters, freely accessible to all.

"It's not," said QIA's John Amagoalik. "It's Canadian internal waters. It's covered by our land claims agreement."

With less ice each summer, the area is becoming attractive to international shipping, resource exploration and military manoeuvres.

"When I was growing up, climate change had not happened yet. It was choked with ice, 0 C even in July," said Amagoalik, who grew up in Resolute.

As a national marine conservation area, the area's administration would be under a steering committee with representation from Parks Canada, Nunavut's Department of the Environment, the Qikiqtani Inuit Association and the communities near Lancaster Sound, according to David Monteith, Nunavut's director of parks and special places.

He said the area was targeted for this designation years ago, as part of the establishment of Sirmilik National Park on the northern edge of Baffin and Bylot Island. But while the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement was under negotiation, the project was put on hold until it was finalized.

The affected communities would be Arctic Bay, Pond Inlet, Resolute and Grise Fiord. Early consultation with the communities has already started.

Once the memorandum of understanding among the three signatories has been signed, that will kick off a $9-million feasibility study, which was allocated in the 2007 federal budget.

That feasibility study will establish the exact boundaries of the protected area. That will have to take into account the most critical animal habitats and migration routes, but also the impacts on the potential for oil and gas industries.

Where possible, the boundaries would exclude areas of potential oil and gas production because non-renewable extraction industries are illegal in national parks and marine conservation areas.

Industrial fishing and shipping is permissible as long as it doesn't hurt the environment, Monteith said.