Arctic Treasure Now a National Wildlife Area

“Isabella Bay is a pristine late summer and fall feeding and resting stop-over for a large proportion of the threatened Davis Strait-Baffin Bay bowhead whale population,” said Mike Russill, CEO of WWF-Canada. “This is not only a day to celebrate the protection of the threatened bowhead whale, but also to celebrate a community effort led from the beginning by the Inuit of Clyde River.”

Niginganiq is a 336,000 ha marine region on Baffin Island that is a crucial feeding area for threatened bowhead whales. The area includes two deep offshore troughs that are rich in copepods, a main source of food for the 18 metre long, 70 tonne bowhead whale. Thought to once number in the tens of thousands, the most recent surveys, from 2003, found an estimated 150-200 bowheads in the Davis Strait-Baffin Bay population. The decline was brought about through unregulated commercial whaling of the 18th & 19th centuries. This is the first Inuit-initiated whale sanctuary in the world, as northerners take on the task of repairing resource depletion brought about by others in the Arctic.

The area also includes a shallow shelf at the entrance to the bay that provides protection for predatory orca whales. Polar bears, ringed seals, Canada geese, snow geese, halibut, ringed seals and narwhal are also found in and around the area and will also benefit from protection.

“Protecting the bowhead whales of Niginganiq has been a 26 year marathon effort,” said Mike Russill, CEO of WWF-Canada. “We are grateful to the people of Clyde River for their patience and persistence, and we thank Minister Baird and Environment Canada for their dedication and commitment in putting this finally over the finish line.”

Although long known to the Inuit, at their request WWF-Canada has invested over $1 million through scientific studies and co-operation with the community to document the importance of the area, and to support their requests for protection. This has included two press conferences with Prince Philip, who as President of WWF-International between 1980-95, personally lent his voice to that of the Inuit.

“From the very beginning in 1982, WWF-Canada has been working with the local Hunters and Trappers Organization and Hamlet Council to protect this important bowhead whale feeding ground,” said Arlin Hackman, Vice President of Conservation, WWF-Canada. “This is an excellent example of an Inuit led and Inuit championed effort to protect the environment of a threatened species brought to the brink of extinction by non-Aboriginal, commercial whalers. We applaud their determination to preserving their natural heritage on behalf of all Canadians.”

Niginganiq is the first National Marine Wildlife Area in Canada. Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) support conservation and protection of Canada’s ocean and ocean resources. If they are well planned and well managed, based on strong science and developed through consultation, MPAs can also help restore
species and fragile ecosystems.

By developing networks of MPAs as part of more comprehensive integrated marine and coastal planning, Canadians, who have the longest coastline in the world, can create the long-term foundation for healthy oceans and coastal economies.

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For media inquiries, please contact:

Craig Stewart
Director, WWF-Canada Ottawa Bureau
Cell: 613-852-1316