Chapter 10. A first look at Nunatsiavut Kangidualuk (‘fjord’) ecosystems Lead author Tanya Brown1,2,3, Ken Reimer3, Tom Sheldon4, Trevor Bell5 1Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC; 2Institute of Ocean Sciences, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Sidney, BC; 3Environmental Sciences Group, Royal Military College of Canada, Kingston, ON; 4Nunatsiavut Government, Nain, NF; 5Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John’s, NF Contributing authors S. Bentley, R. Pienitz, M. Gosselin, M. Blais, M. Carpenter, E. Estrada, T. Richerol, E. Kahlmeyer, S. Luque, B. Sjare, A. Fisk, S. Iverson Abstract Long marine inlets that are classified as either fjords or fjards indent the Labrador coast. Along the moun- tainous north coast a classic fjord landscape dominates, with deep (up to ~300 m) muddy basins separated by rocky sills and flanked by high (up to 1,000 m), steep sidewalls. In contrast, the fjards of the central and southern coast are generally shallow (150 m), irregularly shaped inlets with gently sloping sidewalls and large intertidal zones. These fjords and fjards are important feeding grounds for marine mammals and seabirds and are commonly used by Inuit for hunting and travel. Despite their ecological and socio-cultural importance, these marine ecosystems are largely understudied. The Nunatsiavut Nuluak project has, as a primary goal, to undertake baseline inventories and comparative assessments of representative marine ecosystems in Labrador, including benthic and pelagic community composition, distribution and abun- dance, fjord processes, and oceanographic conditions. A case study demonstrating ecosystem resilience to anthropogenic disturbance is examined. This information provides a foundation for further research and monitoring as climate change and anthropogenic pressures alter recent baselines. 271 NUNATSIAVUT FJORD ECOSYSTEMS Chapter 10 10.1 Introduction ern Labrador surrounded by Torngat Mountains National Park (TMNP); Saglek Fjord, a fjord with a point source Spectacular fjords indent the Northern Labrador coast- of contamination also in northern Labrador; Okak Bay, a line. These fjords are influenced by both Atlantic and fjard in central Labrador frequently used for harvesting Arctic water masses and receive freshwater, nutrients and travel by Inuit from Nain, the nearest community ap- and sediments from glaciers and rivers. Fjords are typ- proximately 100 km to the south; and Anaktalak Bay, an- ically long, narrow inlets carved by glacier ice. Classic other fjard in central Labrador that is the shipping route fjords have deep muddy basins separated by rock sills to a mine and concentrator at the head of the bay (Figure and flanked by tall, steep sidewalls. In contrast, shallow, 1). Nachvak and Saglek fjords are located above 58°N irregularly shaped inlets with gently sloping sidewalls latitude, north of treeline and within the Arctic ecoregion, and large intertidal zones dominate the central Labrador whereas Okak and Anaktalak bays are located between coast. These less spectacular inlets, though also glacially 56° and 58°N latitude within the Subarctic ecoregion, carved, are termed fjards. south of treeline. Labrador fjords and fjards host both Arctic and boreal Prior to the modern era, the only permanent settlements flora and fauna and are an important feeding ground for established along the northern Labrador coast were Hud- marine mammals and seabirds. Humans have inhabited son’s Bay Company (HBC) trading posts and Moravian these inlets for millennia, drawn to the rich and diverse Mission settlements (Fitzhugh 1980). During the 19th natural resources and favourable climate. Labrador Inuit and 20th centuries, Okak Bay supported the largest Inuit depend on these environments for harvesting, travel and population on the Labrador Coast. Nutak, located in Okak, economic development; they also recognize the increased was a Moravian Mission and later a HBC post from 1920 pressures placed on these sensitive systems from natural to 1956 (Kleivan 1966). The remains of mission sites (e.g. climate) and anthropogenic (e.g. industry) changes. and HBC trading posts also exist in Saglek and Nachvak fjords. Hebron, the last permanent settlement in northern Although these coastal zones are extremely important for Labrador, was closed in 1959 when Inuit were forced to Inuit health and wellbeing, they remain understudied and re-settle in communities farther south. For the most part, relatively unknown from a scientific perspective. For in- large scale settlement and industrial development are ab- stance, only scant details are available on their ecology, sent in Nachvak Fjord and Okak Bay. TMNP was estab- physical oceanography and land-ocean linkages. In order lished in 2005 and research carried out in Nachvak Fjord to assess the potential impacts of elevated or new stres- forms an important component of the park’s research and sors, it is necessary to establish a baseline against which monitoring program. observed or predicted changes can be measured. Con- sequently, since 2006 our multi-disciplinary team of uni- Outer Saglek Fjord (Saglek Bay) and inner Anaktalak versity, industry and government researchers has under- Bay are sites of industrial and modern day human activ- taken baseline inventories and comparative assessments ity. Saglek Bay was used extensively in the 1960s during of four representative marine ecosystems in Labrador. the construction and maintenance of the Saglek military radar station. Historical operations resulted in extensive The broad objective of our program is to address Inuit polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) contamination of local concerns regarding the ecological integrity of these mar- soil (Brown et al. 2009, Kuzyk et al. 2005) and prior to ine environments in the face of climate change, natural soil remediation in 1997-1999, the original contamination resource extraction and contamination. The four marine spread to the marine environment. Elevated PCBs were ecosystems are: Nachvak Fjord, a pristine fjord in north- measured in marine sediments and the coastal food web 272 Chapter 10 NUNATSIAVUT FJORD ECOSYSTEMS 64°0'0"W 62°0'0"W 60°0'0"W Nunavut Quebec 60°0'0"N 60°0'0"N Torngat Mountains Labrador National Park Nachvak Fjord 602 600 59°0'0"N 59°0'0"N Labrador Sea Saglek Fjord 617 615 58°0'0"N 58°0'0"N 633 Okak Bay 630 57°0'0"N 57°0'0"N Anaktalak Bay 624 620 0 12.5 25 50 75 Kilometers 64°0'0"W 62°0'0"W 60°0'0"W Figure 1. Location of marine study areas in Nunatsiavut (Nachvak, Saglek, Okak and Anaktalak). Oceanographic stations at the head and mouth of the fjords and fjards are indicated. 273 NUNATSIAVUT FJORD ECOSYSTEMS Chapter 10 more than 7.5 km from the original contamination (Kuzyk ceives most of its modern sediment from Ivitak Brook, et al. 2005). Also in Saglek Bay, the kANGIDLUASUk a glacier-fed river that drains the south-central part of base camp, located on Inuit land at the southern boundary the fiord catchment. The average, annual sediment load of the TMNP, is the venue for a summer youth camp. to the basins ranges between 35,000 and 100,000 tonnes (Kahlmeyer 2009). The head of Anaktalak Bay is the site of a nickel-cop- per-cobalt mine and concentrator that Vale NL (formerly Saglek is a 65-km-long, large branching bay/fjord system Voisey’s Bay Nickel Company) has operated since 2005. (Fitzhugh 1980). Saglek Fjord strictly describes the clas- Labrador Inuit are concerned with the potential environ- sic glacier trough morphology represented by West Arm mental impacts of the mine and concentrator, especially and its tributaries North and Southwest Arm. Farther east, with respect to winter shipping from the dock facility at the fjord opens out into Saglek Bay, which is over 14 km Edward’s Cove along Anaktalak Bay to the Labrador Sea, wide and dotted with large and small islands. The fjord and the treated effluent from the mine that is discharged sidewalls are generally steep, extending up more than 800 into the bay. m vertically from sea level. Fjord basins become increas- ingly deeper from head to mouth, ranging in water depths This chapter presents what we have learned about these from 80 to 256 m. Sills between 45 and 96 m below sea four ecosystems over the past 5 years and identifies in- level separate the basins. Saglek Fjord receives most of formation gaps that are critical to fill in the coming years. its sediment from Nachvak Brook, a nival-fed river that The baseline work that is being conducted in these marine drains the north-central part of the fjord catchment. The ecosystems includes: patterns of the community structure; average, annual sediment load for the basins ranges be- distribution and abundance of both benthic and pelagic tween 16,000 and 380,000 tonnes (Kahlmeyer 2009). fauna and flora; marine sedimentological, palaeoceano- graphic and palaeolimnological analyses over timescales Okak Bay (fjard) is an irregularly shaped, 50-km-long of Inuit and European settlement and modernization; and inlet with north and south entrances either side of Okak the study of Arctic ecosystem resilience to anthropogenic Island. The surrounding catchment is undulating and low disturbances. lying (on average 100-200 m) with only local summits above 400 m height. Underwater, the average depth is 10.2 Physical Features between 40 and 80 m, with flat-bottomed basins separ- ated by low-relief sills. The head of the bay is relatively Nachvak Fjord is a 45-km-long glacial trough that cuts shallow (45-50 m water depth) with two major freshwater through the heart of the Torngat Mountains, producing inputs, Saputit River and North River. The deepest basins 1000-m-high sidewalls and 200-m-deep basins. The fjord by far are on the northeast side of Okak Island along the is 2-4 km wide, increasing gradually eastward to Nachvak northern entrance, where average water depths reach 200 Bay, which opens to the Labrador Sea (Bell and Josen- m.