DFO Central & Arctic Region

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, Yellowknife, Iqaluit, and Winnipeg • Work closely with co-management partners; the Fisheries Joint Management Committee and Inuvialuit communities Western Arctic • Beaufort Sea 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 Yukon 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, Aklavik, Tuktoyaktuk, Sachs Harbour, Paulatuk, 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] .

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