DFO Central & Arctic Region

Presentation to the National Advisory Panel on MPA Standards Inuvik, NT May 31, 2018

Debbie Ming Director, Oceans Management and Aquatic Invasive Species Outline • Regional Context – Central & Arctic Region – Western Arctic overview

• Marine Protected Areas – Governance – Tarium Niryutait (TNMPA) – Anguniaqvia niqiqyuam (ANMPA)

2 3 Western Arctic • DFO Oceans is tasked with managing Canada’s coastal and marine ecosystems according to Canada’s Oceans Strategy and the Oceans Act

• Work is focused on Marine Protected Areas and integrated oceans management

• Staff located in Inuvik, , , and

• Work closely with co-management partners; the Fisheries Joint Management Committee and communities Western Arctic

• is a complex marine ecosystem that supports a variety of fish and marine mammals

• Area is culturally important to Inuvialuit and Gwich’in communities

• Our work supports the Inuvialuit Final Agreement and Gwich’in Comprehensive Land Claim

5 Co-Management Structure

Federal Gov’t Gov’t NWT Gov’t DFO, ECCC, PCA, INAC

Co-management Boards

FJMC EIRB EISC Inuvialuit Regional Joint Secretariat Corporation WMAC (NS) WMAC (NWT)

Inuvialuit Game Council

Hunters and Trappers Committees (6) Inuvik, , , , , Olokhaktokmiut Western Arctic Marine Protected Area Steering Committee • Oversees both Tarium Niryutait and Anguniaqvia niqiqyuam Marine Protected Areas

• Consists of representatives from FJMC, Hunters and Trappers Committees from Inuvik, Aklavik, Tuktoyaktuk, and DFO

• Responsibilities: o Provides guidance on monitoring and management of MPAs o Determines funding allocation for MPA activities o Reviews and provides recommendations on ANMPA activity plans 7

Western Arctic Marine Protected Area Steering Committee • Terms of Reference are being updated to include: o Creation of MPA specific working groups that will increase community participation and provide additional guidance on MPA activities o Role of Inuvialuit MPA Coordinator in supporting MPA program o Terms of Reference need to be endorsed by IRC and IGC

IRC, IGC, and DFO Signatories to the MPA; Provide oversight

WAMPA Provide guidance for MPA management and coordination between MPAs

Secretariat DFO & MPA Coordinator WG Members: HTC representatives Provide input on MPA management and ANMPA Working TNMPA Working monitoring activities Group Group 8 Tarium Niryutait Marine Protected Area • Conservation Objective: “To conserve and protect beluga whales and other marine species, their habitat, and their supporting ecosystems”

• Established in 2010 • One of the first MPAs in Canada • First MPA in the Arctic to be designated under the Oceans Act

9

Ecosystem • TNMPA serves as habitat for the Eastern Beaufort Sea beluga population, as well as a number of fish and marine birds

• The areas are traditionally important to the Inuvialuit from a cultural, Teams measuring a whale at Hendrickson subsistence and economic Island to support the TNMPA monitoring plan perspective

• The regulations support subsistence activities, in accordance with the Inuvialuit Final Agreement

• No large scale commercial fisheries exist in the areas Shingle Point Harvester 10 Oil and Gas • Concerns about the potential effects of Oil and gas exploration on the beluga population led to the creation of the TNMPA

• Okeevik region overlaps with 2 Significant Discovery Licenses

INAC 2016 11 Anguniaqvia niqiqyuam Marine Protected Area • Conservation Objectives:

 “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”. • Relates to northern section, based on Science

 “To maintain the habitat to support populations of key species ( such as beluga whales, Arctic char, and ringed and bearded seals)” • Relates to southern section, 1st conservation objective based solely on Traditional and Established in November 2016 Local Knowledge 12 Ecosystem

• Important habitat for beluga and bowhead whales, ringed and bearded seals, polar bears, Arctic char and Arctic cod

Photo Credit: Blythe Browne • Culturally important area for Inuvialuit for subsistence harvesting, travel, education and other traditional practices

• No commercial fisheries exist in the area 13 DFO: Tony Green at Tippi Vessel traffic

• Activity plan approval is required for all marine tourism activities in the ANMPA

• Vessel travel can transit the ANMPA

• Working with Canadian Coast Guard to inform shipping corridors to reduce potential overlap with northern region 14 Summary • Two MPAs in the Western Arctic: o Tarium Niryutait, established in 2010, to protect important habitat for beluga and other marine species o Anguniaqvia niqiqyuam, established in 2016, to protect important habitat for beluga, bowhead, ringed and bearded seals, polar bears, Arctic char and cod. • MPAs were established collaboratively with the Inuvialuit based on both science and Traditional and Local Knowledge • Both areas are co-managed with the Fisheries Joint Management Committee and Inuvialuit communities • All work supports the Inuvialuit Final Agreement 15 Debbie Ming Director, Oceans Management and Aquatic Invasive Species Ecosystems Management Branch [email protected]