Lancaster Sound under microscope
Steering committee consults with High Arctic communities about proposed national marine conservation area
Myles Dolphin
Northern News Services
Published Monday, December 9, 2013
IQALUIT
The steering committee for a proposed national marine conservation area in the High Arctic has returned from its latest consultation tour with positive feedback from residents of potentially impacted communities.
Diane Blanchard of Parks Canada points to an area of the Lancaster Sound National Marine Conservation Area at a meeting in Iqaluit on Dec. 2. - Myles Dolphin/NNSL photo |
Members of the Qikiqtani Inuit Association (QIA), the Government of Nunavut and Parks Canada were in Iqaluit on Dec. 2 for the last of six meetings in which presentations were made on the Lancaster Sound National Marine Conservation Area feasibility assessment.
The group visited Grise Fiord, Resolute Bay, Arctic Bay, Pond Inlet and Clyde River in November.
Grise Fiord senior administrative officer Marty Kuluguqtuq attended the Nov. 18 meeting in his community and said residents think it's a good idea to establish a protected area.
"Overall the community has no qualms or any disagreements with the proposed conservation area," he said.
"I think the community wants to increase the current boundaries established by Parks Canada and we are more inclined to accept those suggested by QIA. The general thinking is that the more area that may be covered, the better it will be for us."
The federal government's original boundary proposal, announced in December 2010, extends from the eastern coast of Bylot Island to the eastern coast of Somerset Island.
After a first round of consultations in those communities from July to September last year, QIA drew up its own boundaries based on comments and feedback it received.
The updated area is significantly larger and includes a protected zone much closer to Grise Fiord.
It also extends west to Cunningham Inlet and south to Admiralty Inlet, covering more than 40,000 square kilometres.
It is estimated that more than 2,000 beluga whales migrate to Cunningham Inlet every summer.
Francine Mercier of Parks Canada said the protected area is also home to 75 per cent of the world's narwhal population, 20 per cent of the Canadian beluga population and the largest sub population of polar bears in Canada.
In addition, more than one million breeding birds can be found near colonies in Lancaster Sound during the summer.
After completing mineral and ecological reports in the area, as well as gathering Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit from residents, the committee was able to create a variety of maps it will layer to ultimately create a final recommendation.
Geologist Danny Wright from Natural Resources Canada said initial data assessments reveal there is a significant amount of petroleum in the area.
While no proven reserves have been found, the Geological Survey of Canada estimates there could be between 0.6 and 10.1 billion barrels of oil in the Lancaster Sound national marine conservation area.
Wright said hunters have spotted various oil slicks on the surface of the water near Scott Inlet, and natural gas has been recorded seeping from the ocean floor.
In 2010 the federal government announced no exploration or development of oil and gas resources would take place in the area before a decision had been reached on the national marine conservation area.
"It was recognized that there was a need to assess the energy potential of the area in order to provide all stakeholders with sufficient information to make an informed decision with respect to the boundaries of a (national marine conservation area) in Lancaster Sound," according to a Parks Canada fact sheet.
Kuluguqtuq said despite the progress on the national marine conservation area, a certain amount of loose ends remain.
"There are caribou and polar bear management plans that still need to be finalized," he said.
"In marine conservation in the past we've strongly opposed seismic testing and Lancaster Sound is a gateway to our own Jones Sound. It's a step by step process but in general terms we're in favour of a conservation area."
The final boundaries will be decided following future consultations with High Arctic communities and by the results of several studies which are still underway.
The next step for the steering committee will involve bringing its data and maps back to communities for more discussions on the preferred boundary for the national marine conservation area.
When a final boundary has been established, the committee will present its recommendations on the feasibility of the national marine conservation area to the territorial and federal minsters of Environment as well as the president of QIA.
