NUNAVUT
Oil company Shell has donated the offshore rights for Lancaster Sound, a body of water between Baffin Island and Devon Island, to the federal government to mark World Oceans Day.

Shell officially transferred its offshore rights to the Lancaster Sound area to the National Conservancy of Canada, who in turn will hand the rights over to the federal government. That means progress toward turning the area into a protected marine park will take another step forward. - map courtesy of Parks Canada

That news was met with joy by Greenpeace and other environmental organizations that had been vocal in opposition to oil exploration in the area.

Shell's transfer of the offshore rights to the National Conservancy of Canada, and in turn to the federal government, will allow the government of Canada to pursue turning the area into a national marine conservation area.

Tununiq MLA Joe Enook celebrated the decision in the legislative assembly June 8.

"This is a very positive development towards the establishment of the Lancaster Sound Marine Conservation Area," he said through an interpreter.

"I want to take this opportunity to publicly congratulate the parties involved in this announcement, and I ask all members to join me in recognizing this step forward."

Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami president Natan Obed congratulated the parties involved, but added a reminder to the government of Canada that partnerships with Inuit are essential and necessary in the development of a Lancaster Sound National Marine Conservation Area.

"This delicate ecosystem represents our natural wealth as a people. I am encouraged to see such momentum towards protecting these waters for future generations of Inuit," stated Obed in a news release.

The Qikiqtani Inuit Association stated that the announcement by Shell removes the uncertainty of a longstanding barrier and will expedite the process toward the creation of a marine conservation area.

In a news release, Greenpeace Arctic campaigner Alex Speers-Roesch stated Shell was experiencing "Arctic shell shock" and "slowly coming to terms with the fact that Arctic oil is simply a bad investment."

He maintains that Shell's permits had actually expired years ago.

"It's a bit fresh of Shell to claim it's relinquishing them voluntarily to support Arctic protection," stated Speers-Roesch.

"This is their attempt to score some brownie points and exit from the scene gracefully, rather than having the permits pried from their hands by force, which is what would have happened to them otherwise."

Plans to turn Lancaster Sound into a protected area have been years in the making, and Shell's transfer of rights looks to push that another step forward.

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