Initiatives
Anguniaqvia niqiqyuam Marine Protected Area
Pronunciation Sound Clip
The Anguniaqvia Niqiqyuam (Ung-u-niak-via Ni-kig-e-um) Marine Protected Area (AN MPA) was officially announced on October 28th, 2016.
AN MPA is Canada’s second Arctic MPA designated under the Oceans Act and is the first MPA to have a conservation objective based solely on Indigenous traditional and local knowledge. It is located in Darnley Bay, Northwest Territories, covering an area of 2,358 square kilometres. AN MPA borders the east coast of the Parry Peninsula, near the community of Paulatuk, in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region. AN MPA has been identified as an ecologically important area that provides critical habitat for Arctic char, cod, beluga whales, ringed and bearded seals, polar bears, and sea birds. In fact, it is home to the only thick-billed murre colony in the western Canadian Arctic.
In the open-water season, near-shore waters in the AN MPA provide migratory and feeding habitat for Arctic char and other fish species that migrate from the sea to fresh water to spawn. Offshore waters in the AN MPA support a variety of marine invertebrates, fish, marine mammals, and birds.
During winter, the sea ice in the AN MPA provides breeding and feeding habitat for polar bears and seals. Areas of open water within the sea ice (i.e. polynyas) offer critical feeding areas and promote aggregations of marine mammals and prey.
AN MPA is also culturally important for the Inuvialuit as it supports subsistence harvesting of Arctic char, beluga, birds, and other species by the community of Paulatuk. The community also utilizes portions of the AN MPA for travel, education, and other traditional activities.
The conservation objectives of the AN MPA are:
- To maintain the integrity of the marine environment offshore of the Cape Parry Migratory Bird Sanctuary so that it is productive and allows for higher trophic-level feeding.
- To maintain the habitat to support populations of key species, such as belugas, Arctic char, and ringed and bearded seals.
An AN MPA management plan is being developed to guide the day-to-day management, governance, and monitoring of the AN MPA. It will also guide reporting on the area. The management plan will describe public education and outreach, enforcement, and compliance initiatives, as well as regulatory and non-regulatory measures. The inclusion of regulatory and non-regulatory measures is essential to ensure the continued support of other legislation, regulations, and policies that contribute to the protection of this area.
The management plan will address needs identified by the community of Paulatuk, co-management partners, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), as well as additional partners and proponents on aspects related to the governance and the management responsibilities of the area. The plan will also describe and define the roles and responsibilities of the advisory committee that will provide advice to DFO regarding the management of the AN MPA. This will include guidelines and work plans related to the non-regulatory management components.
The creation of this MPA was a collaborative effort. The Anguniaqvia Niqiqyuam Area of Interest Steering Committee was comprised of the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation, Fisheries Joint Management Committee, the Inuvialuit Game Council, the Paulatuk Hunters and Trappers Committee, and DFO. Together the committee worked towards the designation of the AN MPA. Today, the same parties form the AN MPA Working Group which leads the day to day management of the MPA.
For additional documentation and to stay up to date on annual reporting, please refer to the Publications section on the AN MPA DFO website:
To view the TK Workshop report, please visit:
Scientific research and monitoring, marine tourism and education activities being undertaken in the Anguniaqvia niqiyuam MPA require the submission of an Activity Plan.
Click for more information and link to applications.