MOVEMENT AND DIVING OF NORTHERN HUDSON BAYNARWHALS (MONODON

MONOCEROSY.RELEVANCETO STOCK ASSESSMENT AND HUNT CO-MANAGEMENT

By

Kristin H. Westdal

A Thesis submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies of

The University of Manitoba

in partial fulfilment of the requirements of the degree of

MASTER OF ENVIRONMENT

Department of Environment and Geography

University of Manitoba

Winnipeg

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Movement and Diving of Northern Hudson Bay Narwhals (Monodon Monoceros): Relevance to Stock Assessment and Hunt Co-Management

BY

Kristin H. Westdal

A Thesis/Practicum submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies of The University of

Manitoba in partial fulfillment of the requirement of the degree

Of

MASTER OF ENVIRONMENT

Kristin H. Westdal © 2009

Permission has been granted to the University of Manitoba Libraries to lend a copy of this thesis/practicum, to Library and Archives Canada (LAC) to lend a copy of this thesis/practicum, and to LAC's agent (UMI/ProQuest) to microfilm, sell copies and to publish an abstract of this thesis/practicum.

This reproduction or copy of this thesis has been made available by authority of the copyright owner solely for the purpose of private study and research, and may only be reproduced and copied as permitted by copyright laws or with express written authorization from the copyright owner. Abstract

The Northern Hudson Bay narwhal {Monodon monoceros) population gathers in the area of Repulse Bay, Nunavut in the summer season. This population is culturally important to the local Inuit communities and is hunted for subsistence purposes. The narwhal population is co-managed by the Nunavut Wildlife Management Board and Fisheries and Oceans Canada. There is some uncertainty as to the population size, where this population of narwhal migrates in the winter, if its range overlaps with that of other narwhal populations and whether it is hunted by additional communities than Repulse Bay.

The purpose of this research is to improve population estimates of narwhals summering near Repulse Bay, to determine if this population is geographically separate from other narwhal populations, to identify summer movement in the Repulse Bay area and to add to written documentation of local knowledge of the species, held only by community members, that may provide insight related to these issues.

I combined satellite telemetry data and local knowledge to gain a greater understanding of the population for management purposes. I used satellite telemetry data from five narwhals tagged in August of 2006 and four in August of 2007 in the Repulse Bay area, and analysis of local knowledge from seventeen interviews conducted with hunters and elders in the community of Repulse Bay in July and August of 2007. Research results will benefit co-management bodies and the community of Repulse Bay by providing written documentation of local knowledge of the species and by improving the current population estimate of narwhal from which sustainable harvest levels can be managed.

August spatial distribution of the NHB narwhal did not fell entirely within the boundaries of past aerial survey coverage, and future aerial survey will need to be expanded to account for this. Surface times recorded from diving data, used to calculate an aerial survey correction fector, were found to be different from that of High Arctic narwhal. This difference, although not comparable statistically due to small sample size used in the High Arctic calculation, results in a higher population estimate for the NHB narwhal populatioa Lastly, data gathered on winter and summer home range adds to the evidence that the NHB narwhal is a separate population to that of the Baffin Bay narwhal.

Narwhal are important culturally, spiritually and economically to the people of Repulse Bay. Involving the community in this research and in future research is key to successful co-management partnerships.

2 Table of Contents

Abstract 2 List of Tables 5 List of Figures 5 List of Copyrighted Material for which Permission was Obtained 8 List of Appendices 8 Acknowledgements 9

Chapter 1. Introduction 10

1.1 Outline 10

1.2 Background 10

1.3 Predictions 15

1.4 Purpose 16

1.5 Objectives 17

1.6 Limitations of the Study 19

1.7 References 21

Chapter 2. Migration route and seasonal home range of the Northern Hudson Bay narwhal (Monodon monoceros) Paper #1 24

2.1. Abstract 24

2.2. Introduction 25

2.3. Methods 28 2.3.1. Satellite Telemetry 28 2.3.2. Traditional Ecological Know ledge 33 2.4. Results 36 2.4.1. Satellite Telemetry 36 2.4.1. Traditional Ecological Knowledge Interview Results 49 2.5. Discussion 58 2.6. Findings and Conclusions 67

2.7. References 70

3 Chapter 3. Availability bias in population survey of Northern Hudson Bay narwhal {Monodon monoceros) Paper #2 74

3.1. Abstract 74 3.2. Introduction 75

3.3. Methods 79 3.3.1. Satellite Telemetry 79 3.3.2. Traditional Ecological Knowledge 83 3.4. Results 87 3.4.1. SateUite Telemetry 87 3.4.2. Traditional Ecological Knowledge 89 3.5. Discussion 91

3.6. Findings and Conclusions 94

3.7. References 97

Chapter 4. Conclusions 100

4.1 Methods 100

4.2. Major Findings 101

4.3. Community Perspectives 103

4.4. Research Recommendations 105

4 List of Tables

Chapter 2:

Table 1. Individual narwhal satellite-tagged over two years used in this study

Table 2. Repulse Bay community participants

Chapter 3:

Table 1. Individual narwhal satellite-tagged over two years used in this study

Table 2. Repulse Bay community participants

Table 3. Proportion of time spent at depth (0-2 m) during August for all nine whales

List of Figures

Chapter 2:

Figure 1. Local area map showing the region where the NHB narwhal is known to summer

Figure 2. SPLASH satellite transmitter attached to narwhal and ready for release in 2007

Figure 3. August 2006 NHB narwhal summer home range displaying 95% kernel probability home ranges as determined by satellite telemetry. Kernel areas generated by Jonsen's state space model modeled data are shown in dark gray, and areas generated from location quality filtered data are in light gray

Figure 4. August 2007 NHB narwhal summer home range displaying 95% kernel probability home ranges as determined by satellite telemetry. Kernel areas generated by Jonsen's state space model modeled data are shown in dark gray, and areas generated from location quality filtered data are in light gray

5 Figure 5. NHB narwhal winter home range displaying 95% kernel probability home ranges as determined by satellite telemetry. Kernel areas generated by Jonsen's state space model modeled data are shown in dark gray, and areas generated from location quality filtered data are in light gray

Figure 6. August 2006 NHB narwhal summer home range with outer ring (light gray) the 95% kernel probability and inner ring (black) displaying the 50% kernel probability of modeled locations

Figure 7. August 2000 photographic aerial survey coverage (Bourassa, 2002) overlaid on top of August 2006 summer home range (as shown in Figure 6)

Figure 8. August 2000 aerial visual survey flight lines (Bourassa, 2002) overlaid on August 2006 home range

Figure 9. August 2007 NHB narwhal home range with outer rings (light gray) displaying the 95% kernel probability and inner ring (black) displaying the 50% kernel probability of modeled locations

Figure 10. August 2000 photographic aerial survey coverage (Bourassa, 2002) overlaid on August 2007 summer home range (as shown in Figure 9)

Figure 11. August 2001 aerial visual survey flight lines (Bourassa, 2002) overlaid on August 2007 home range

Figure 12. Overlap of August home range (shown here as location points) from 2006 (black) and 2007 (light gray) circled

Figure 13. Migration route of narwhal tagged in 2006 and 2007 (n=9) summering in Repulse Bay area and wintering in the Labrador Sea

Figure 14, Winter home range of the NHB narwhal in blue; black inner ring (50% kernel probability), light gray outer (95% kernel probability)

Figure 15. NHB narwhal fall migration route, as drawn by two participants in separate interviews

Figure 16. Floe edge past (light gray) and present (black) winter location as drawn by community participant

Figure 17. Area location map showing Seahorse Point, Southampton Island

6 Figure 18. Winter home range of the tagged NHB narwhal circled in black at the south end of Baffin Bay, and winter home ranges from tagged Baffin Bay narwhal, animals tagged in: Admiralty Inlet (Dietz et al., 2008), Somerset Island (Heide-Jorgensen et al., 2002; Heide-Jorgensen et al., 2003); Melville Bay (Dietz and Heide-Jorgensen, 1995), Eclipse Sound (Dietz et aL, 2001) (Basemap: ESRI ArcUSA)

Figure 19. Average narwhal densities during July 1982 - 1984 surveys from Richard (1991) shown with approximate highest densities (checkered overlay) from summer home range kernel probability data from 2006 and 2007 satellite tag data

Figure 20. Area map displaying locations on the Northwest coast of Hudson Bay and Melville Peninsula

Figure 21. Number of narwhal observed in photographic aerial surveys in August 2000 (from Bourassa, 2002)

Figure 22. Number of narwhal observed in visual aerial surveys in August 2000 (from Bourassa, 2002)

Chapter 3:

Figure 1. Northern Hudson Bay narwhal hunting communities

Figure 2. 2000 aerial photo survey coverage (from Bourassa, 2002)

Figure 3. Wildlife Computers SPLASH tag used in 2007

Figure 4. Corrleogram of autocorrelation of PTT 57597 displaying upper and lower boundaries of a significance level of 95% in black

Figure 5. Regression of time at depth of 0 to 2 meters for all whales (n=9) compared to date

7 List of Copyrighted Material for which Permission was Obtained

Average narwhal densities during July 1982-84 surveys from: Richard, P.R. (1991). Abundance and distribution of narwhals (Monodon monoceros) in northern Hudson Bay. Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci., 48, p.281 64

Nombre de narvals observes lors des inventaires photographiques (A) et visuels par transects lineaires (B) from: Bourassa, M.N. (2002). Inventaries de la population de narvals (Monodon monoceros) du nord de la Bale D'Hudson et analyse des changements demographiques depuis 1983. Unpublished master's thesis, Universite du Quebec, Rimouski, Quebec, Canada, p. 26 66

List of Appendices

Appendix I English participant consent form

Appendix II Inuktitut participant consent form

Appendix HI Traditional Ecological Knowledge Interview themes

8 Ac kno wledgements

There are many people I would like to thank for their guidance and support academically and personally thought this process.

I would like to start by thanking Pierre Richard for offering me the opportunity to work with him and on this project. I am ever so grateful. I would also like to thank my advisor, Rick Riewe for his humor, support and interest in this project. Thanks also to the rest of my committee, Jill Oakes and Nicola Koper, for their insight and encouragement.

A big thanks to those I worked with in the tagging camp in Repulse Bay, especially Jack Orr. It was their experience working in the community and with narwhals that made it possible to conduct this study.

Interviews in the community would not have been possible without Marius Tungilik the project interpreter. I would also like to thank the Hunters and Trappers Organization in Repulse, especially Marie Kringuk, for all their help and interest in the project. A big thanks to all the interview participants from the community of Repulse Bay whose names are listed in the thesis.

And last but not least, I would like thank my parents, Heather and Harold Westdal for their encouragement and never ending support in my many endeavors and degrees over the years.

This project would not have been possible without financial support from: Fisheries and Oceans Canada, ArcticNet (Network Centers of Excellence), Northern Scientific Training Program (Aboriginal and Northern Affairs Canada), Drs. Jill Oakes and Rick Riewe, Society for Marine Mammalogy, Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers, University of Manitoba Graduate Students Association, University of Manitoba Students Union, University of Manitoba Alumni Association, Clayton H. Riddell Faculty of Earth, Environment and Resources at the University of Manitoba, and my parents.

9 Chapter 1. Introduction

1.1 Outline

This chapter introduces the thesis and describes the need for the research and the way in which the research objectives were achieved. Chapters two and three present two distinct parts of the research project that together make up the whole project and provide a conclusion to the three main hypotheses. Chapter four summarizes the research project and brings together important results presented in chapters two and three as well as future research recommendations and recommendations from the community participants in

Repulse Bay, Nunavut.

1.2 Background

The narwhal (Monodon monoceros) is an arctic cetacean of the suborder Odontoceti

(toothed whales) and family Monodontidae, which it shares with their closest relative, the beluga {Delphinapterus leucas). It is a medium-sized toothed whale that grows to a length of five meters, excluding the tusk (Hay & Mansfield, 1989). The left tooth protrudes in males to form an ivory tusk while the other stays embedded in the jaw.

While tusks in females and double tusks in males do occur, it is uncommon (Mitchell &

Reeves, 1981).

10 Narwhals inhabit northern reaches of the globe generally above 60 N. They are believed to be semi-circumpolar in nature in that they mainly inhabit portions of the Arctic made up of Eastern Canadian Arctic and European Arctic waters. Although little is known about narwhal habitat needs, it is known that they prefer deep water in both summer and winter. In summer, narwhal range in coastal areas with both deep water and shelter

(Richard et aL, 1994) while their winter is spent ferther offshore (Laidre et al., 2002).

They are thought to return to the same locations in the Arctic year after year (Laidre, et aL, 2004). Ice, water depth and the presence of upwellings may all play key roles in habitat selection (Heide-Jorgensen et aL, 2002; Laidre et al., 2004).

The Northern Hudson Bay (NHB) narwhal (Monodon monoceros) population is one of three narwhal populations inhabiting the circumpolar arctic. Categorized by summering geographic locations, the two others are the Baffin Bay and East Greenland populations

(Fisheries and Oceans Canada 1998a, 1998b). The NHB narwhal population aggregates in the area of Repulse Bay and surrounding waters in the summer season (Richard, 1991).

This population migrates between Northern Hudson Bay (largely Repulse Bay, Lyon

Inlet, Frozen Straight, and Western Foxe Basin) in the summer, and is thought to move to areas of Northern Hudson Bay and Hudson Strait in the winter (Richard, 1991; Fisheries and Oceans Canada, 1998a).

Aerial photographic surveys estimated the NHB narwhal population at 1,355 in 1984

(Richard, 1991) and 1,778 in 2000 (Bourassa, 2002) but these surveys were unable to take into account submerged animals (Richard & Pike, 1993). Studies of narwhal diving

11 behavior and surface time in the Canadian High Arctic suggest that correcting surveys for submerged animals could more than double these estimates (Heide-Jorgensen & Dietz,

1995; Heide-J0rgensenet al, 2001).

The NHB narwhal population is hunted by Inuit from six communities in Nunavut:

Chesterfield Inlet (Igluligaarjuk), Coral Harbour (Salliq), Rankin Inlet (Kangiqliniq),

Whale Cove (Tikirarjuaq), Cape Dorset (Kingait) and Repulse Bay (Naujaat) (Fisheries and Oceans Canada 1998a). Repulse Bay is the main community hunting this population

(Fisheries and Oceans Canada 1998a). Narwhals are hunted for local food consumption as well as a way to generate income within the community. They are hunted for their skin, or maktaq, as well as ivory tusks and meat (Nuttall et aL, 2005); although very little narwhal meat is utilized in Inuit communities today compared to the past (Oakes and

Riewe, 1997). In northwestern Hudson Bay, hunters with dog teams will keep the meat for their animals but generally most of the meat is left behind (Gonzalez, 2001) as the meat is dark with myoglobin and difficult to digest (Pierre Richard, personal communication, November 13, 2008). The maktaq and the back straps, muscles running length wise on either side of the dorsal ridge, are the two main parts used for human consumption in Repulse Bay (Jack Orr, personal communication, March 2007). Ivory tusks of the male animals are harvested and sold to generate income (Condon et aL 1995).

The number of animals that can be annually taken from this population are currently determined by a quota system and a pilot community-based narwhal management system

The quota system is in place in Chesterfield Inlet, Coral Harbour, Rankin Inlet, Whale

12 Cove and Cape Dorset. Repulse Bay is part of a pilot community-based narwhal management system along with four communities (Arctic Bay (Ikpiarjuk), Qikiqtarjuaq,

Pond Inlet (Mittimatalik) and Kugaaruk). The latter four communities hunt from the

Baffin Bay narwhal stock (Armitage, 2005).

The legislative responsibility for marine mammal management resides with the Federal

Government, under the Fisheries Act, and is enforced with the Marine Mammal

Regulations by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO). Under a co-management framework as set out by the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement, however, DFO, the

Nunavut Wildlife Management Board and local Hunters and Trappers Organizations work together in areas of resource management. Quotas are set by the Nunavut Wildlife

Management Board (NWMB) in cooperation with DFO, whereas community-based narwhal management is implemented by the Hunters and Trappers Organization (HTO) in consultation with the NWMB and DFO.

There is some uncertainty about where the NHB narwhal population migrates in the winter, its size and whether it is hunted intensively by communities other than Repulse

Bay between its wintering and summering grounds. This information is required to assist in management decisions made at the HTO level as well as at the NWMB and DFO.

This research combined both scientific knowledge and traditional ecological knowledge

(TEK) in order to address those uncertainties. There is much literature on the value of incorporating science and TEK (Fast & Berkes, 1994; Huntington, 2000; Berkes et aL,

13 2005) as well as the integration of TEK with western science (Hobson, 1992; Nadasdy,

1999). TEK and western science can provide different types and extents of information that can be useful in combination (Usher, 2000). Local knowledge can provide a historical perspective and long term understanding of a species or ecosystem (Johannes et aL, 2000) whereas science has the ability to provide intense and short term observatioa

Partly for these reasons, wildlife management bodies have found that incorporating traditional knowledge can assist in improving sustainability (Moller et al., 2004) and understanding of a species. Management bodies that currently include both western science and TEK in their decision making include the Nunavut Wildlife Management

Board (Diduck et aL, 2004), the Beverly-Qamanirjuaq Caribou Management Board, and the Fisheries Joint Management Committee in the Northwest Territories.

Although there is much literature on the topic, and much support for the use and value of

TEK in conservation and research its widespread use remains to be seen (Huntington,

2000). Challenges associated with the use and incorporation of western science and

TEK have been documented by many and include the following:

1. Lack of common strategy for collecting TEK (Hobson, 1992; Fast & Berkes,

1994)

2. Lack of methodology for dealing with the incorporation of two different types of

data sets (Nadasdy, 1999)

3. Potential loss of meaning of knowledge in context due to lack of exposure and

difficulty in communication (Bielawski, 1992; Hobson, 1992) and to

14 "compartmentalizing" and "distilling" knowledge to fit within a scientific

framework (Nadasdy, 1999)

4. Difficulty in giving equal weight to both forms of knowledge when it is being

presented in a scientific framework (Nakashima, 1993; Nadasdy, 1999)

5. Lack of trust in the sincere use of knowledge from both western scientists and

First Nations (Nadasdy, 1999)

These challenges reflect the tact that the incorporation starts from a scientific perspective

and that the research is originating from outside the community, aiming to incorporate the

knowledge within. A lack of common strategy for documenting TEK was not seen to be

a deterrent in this situation and perhaps the challenge of bringing the two forms of knowledge together was reduced as the goal of this research was not to give equal weight

to each scientific data and TEK, but to use information from each in a fashion that would

answer the questions at hand.

1.3 Predictions

1. Spatial distribution of the NHB narwhal in August is located within the range of past

survey coverage.

2. Aerial survey correction factor for the NHB narwhal is different from published

estimates for narwhal from other regions across the Arctic.

3. There is no range overlap between the Baffin Bay narwhal stock and the NHB

population.

15 1.4 Purpose

The purpose of this research is to improve population estimates of narwhal summering

near Repulse Bay, to determine if this population is geographically separate from other

narwhal populations, and to identify summer movement in the Repulse Bay area in order

to assist in creating sustainable management plans.

Further information on this population is needed for management purposes. Specifically, more information is required on narwhal migration routes, summer and winter range and variability within these patterns (Heide-Jorgensen et al., 2003). Population information

will be used by the NWMB, DFO, and affected Nunavut communities. The community

of Repulse Bay has requested that more research be carried out on the NHB narwhal population to improve co-management of the species (P.Richard, personal

communication, September 21, 2006). Ideally, improved management plans would

address the needs of the community of Repulse Bay while meeting long term

conservation goals.

An issue that helped drive this research is a difference of opinion between the community and regulators with respect to quotas and management of the hunt. Due to limited biological information available in the 1970's when the quota system was put in place, harvest quotas were based on historical catch in communities. The quota has increased since it was originally put in place and recently Repulse Bay has requested a further increase in their community harvest quota. DFO has advised the NWMB that no decision should be made until an updated population estimate is available (P.Hall, personal

16 communication, October 14, 2008). The community believes the current population estimates for the NHB narwhal to be low and, as a consequence, the community harvest quotas and restrictions may be set lower than necessary (Armitage, 2005). With the re- evaluation of the community based management system this year, satellite data and traditional ecological knowledge gathered in this study and previous biological studies will play a role in the future management of the hunt. From a community perspective, improved resource management would provide for a greater harvest opportunity of narwhal over an indefinite period of time.

1.5 Objectives

Scientific Objectives:

1. To determine spatial distribution of the Repulse Bay narwhal population in August in relation to past population survey coverage and future survey design.

This objective is required to find out if this population ranges over the same geographic area covered during past aerial surveys in August. This data will assist in determining if additional locations would need to be covered by surveys in order to further improve population estimates.

2. To improve population estimates by developing a correction factor for diving animals which are not seen by aerial surveys.

17 This objective is required to develop a better estimate of the NHB narwhal populatioa

Previous aerial surveys of this population were unable to account for submerged narwhal below two meters in depth (Richard et aL 1994). Recording of diving behavior of this population, in this case the proportion of time spent at 0-2 meters in depth, will allow for the development of a correction factor for the population (Reeves & St. Aubin, 2001).

Accurate population estimates are essential in the creation of sustainable community hunting quotas and management plans that are capable of meeting basic community needs in the long term.

3. To determine wintering areas and migration routes to test the prediction of population geographic segregation from other narwhal populations.

Migration routes and winter locations need to be confirmed in order to verify that this population is separate from other narwhal populations and to determine if other communities along the migration route of the NHB narwhal are hunting this populatioa

Relationships between narwhals seen in the winter and those summering in the Repulse

Bay area are unconfirmed (Mansfield, 1990). Satellite telemetry can be used to obtain information relevant to this question.

18 Traditional Ecological Knowledge Objectives:

1. To add to TEK compiled recently in the community of Repulse Bay on narwhal migration, summer distribution, and diving behavior.

This objective is important in understanding the localized movement of the narwhal populatioa TEK may yield observation on variance in distribution that may not be

obtained by the scientific method. Past TEK collected in Repulse Bay by Gonzalez in

2001 was used in conjunction with new information from community members obtained

in this project.

2. To combine scientific literature, data and traditional ecological knowledge.

Together scientific data and TEK can provide a better picture of the population than

either one alone. They can complement each other through different levels of

observational intensity and geographic area (Lewis et al., in press) which can be used in management and future research purposes.

1.6 Limitations of the Study

This research is based on scientific data gathered from nine narwhals tagged over two seasons near Repulse Bay and community members' knowledge of the Northern Hudson

Bay narwhal population. The two main limitations of this study are that data is only available from nine narwhals, from a population of several thousand, and a single Inuit

19 community (Repulse Bay) that is in contact with this narwhal population. There are five other communities thought to occasionally hunt this population (Chesterfield Inlet, Coral

Harbour, Rankin Inlet, Whale Cove, and Cape Dorset) but due to the limitations of the study only the main hunting community will be represented.

Logistically this study is limited by the length of time the satellite-linked tracking devices stay attached to the whales and transmit position data. Other limitations include the availability and desire of the community members to share their knowledge of narwhal

(see appendices I-III for participant consent forms and interview themes). The data represented in this research will be restricted by these factors.

20 1.7 References

Armitage, D.R. (2005). Community-Based Narwhal Management inNunavut, Canada: Change, Uncertainty, and Adaptatioa Society and Natural Resources, 18:715-731.

Berkes, F., Huebert, R., Fast, H., Manseau, M., & Diduck, A. (Eds.). (2005). Breaking ice: Renewable resource and ocean management in the Canadian north. Calgary: University of Calgary Press.

Bielawski, E. (1992). Inuit Indigenous Knowledge and Science in the Arctic. Northern Perspectives, 20(l):l-4.

Bourassa, M.N. (2002). Inventories de la population de narvals (Monodon monoceros) du nordde la Bale D 'Hudson et analyse des changements demographiques depuis 1983. Unpublished master's thesis, Universite du Quebec, Rimouski, Quebec, Canada.

Condon, R.G., Collings, P., & Wenzel, G. (1995). The Best Part of Life: Subsistence Hunting, Ethnicity, and Economic Adaptation among Young Adult Inuit Males. Arctic, 48(1), 31-46.

COSEWIC. (2004). COSEWIC assessment and update status report on the narwhal Monodon monoceros in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. Ottawa, vii + 50 pp.

DFO [Canada. Department of Fisheries and Oceans]. (1998a). Hudson Bay narwhal. Canada Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Central and Arctic Region, DFO Science Stock Status Report E5-44: 5 p.

DFO [Canada. Department of Fisheries and Oceans]. (1998b). Baffin Bay narwhal. Canada Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Central and Arctic Region, DFO Science Stock Status Report E5-43: 5 p.

Diduck, A., Bankes, N., Clark, D., Armitage, D. (2004). Breaking Ice: Integrated Ocean Management in the Canadian North. In Berkes, F., Diduck, A., Fast, H., Huebert, R., Manseau, M. (Ed.), Unpacking Social Learning in Social-Ecological Systems: Case Studies of Polar Bear and Narwhal Management in Northern Canada (pp 269-290). Calgary, Alberta: University of Calgary Press.

Fast, H., & Berkes, F. (1994). Native Land Use, traditional knowledge and the subsistence economy in the Hudson Bay bioregion. Technical paper prepared for the Hudson Bay Programme: Canadian Arctic Resources Committee. 33 pp.

21 Gonzalez, N. (2001). Inuit traditional knowledge of the Hudson Bay narwhal (tuugaalik) population. Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Iqaluit Nunavut, 26p.

Hay, K.A., MansField, A.W. (1989) Narwhal (Monodon monoceros) Linnaeus, 1758. In Ridgway S.H., Harrison, R. (Eds.) Handbook of marine mammals : (pp 145-176).

Heide-J0rgensen, M.P. & Dietz, R. (1995). Some characteristics of narwhal {Monodon monoceros) diving behaviour in Baffin Bay. Can. J. Zool, 73, 2120-2132.

Heide-Jorgensen, M.P., Hammeken, N., Dietz, R., Orr, J., & Richard, P.R. (2001). Surfacing Times and Dive Rates for Narwhals {Monodon monoceros) and Beluga {Delphinapterus leucas). Arctic, 54 (3), 284-298.

Heide-Jorgensen, M.P., Dietz,R., Laidre, K.L., & Richard, P. (2002). Autumn movements, home ranges, and winter density of narwhals (Monodon monoceros) tagged in Tremblay Sound, Baffin Island. Polar Biology, 25(5), 331-341.

Heide-Jorgensen, M.P., Dietz, R., Laidre, K.L., Richard, P.R., Orr, J., & Schmidt, H.C. (2003). The migratory behaviour of narwhals (Monodon monoceros). Can. J. Zool, 81, 1298-1305.

Hobson, G. (1992). Traditional knowledge is science. Northern Perspectives, 20(1).

Huntington, H.P. (2000). Using traditional ecological knowledge in science: methods and applications. Ecological Applications, 10, 1270-1274.

Johannes, R.E., Freeman, M.M.R., Hamilton, R.J. (2000). Ignore fishers' knowledge and miss the boat. Fish and Fisheries, 1(3), 257-271.

Laidre, K.L., Heide-Jorgensen, M.P., & Dietz, R. (2002). Diving behavior of narwhal (Monodon monoceros) at two costal localities in the Canadian High Arctic. Can. J. Zool, 80:624-635.

Laidre, K.L., Heide-Jorgensen, M.P., Logdson, M.L., Hobbs, R.C., Heagerty, P., Dietz, R., Jorgensen, O.A., & Treble, M. A. (2004). Seasonal narwhal habitat associations in the high Arctic. Marine Biology, 145, 821-831.

Lewis, A.E., Hammill, M.O., Power, M., Doidge, D.W., & Lesage, V. (2007). A comparison of eastern Hudson Bay beluga {Delphinapterus leucas) movement and aggregation patterns using satellite telemetry and Nunavik traditional ecological knowledge. In Review.

Mansfield, A.W. (1990). Hudson Straight Marine Ecosystem: Marine Mammals. In Percy, J.A.(Ed.), Proceedings of a workshop: Marine Ecosystem Studies in Hudson Straight. November 9-10, 1989, Montreal, Quebec. Caa Tech. Rep. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 1770:(pp.l34-139).

22 Mitchell, E., & Reeves, R.R. (1981). Catch history and cumulative catch estimates of initial population size of cetaceans in the Eastern Canadian Arctic. Rep. int. WhaL Commn. 31,645-682.

Moller, H., Berkes, F., Lyver, P.O., and Kislalioglu, M. (2004). Combining Science and Traditional Ecological Knowledge: Monitoring Populations for Co-Management. Ecology and Society, 9 (3), 2. [online] URL: http://www.ecologyandsociety.org/vol9/iss3/art2

Nadasdy, P. (1999). The politics ofTEK: Power and the "integration" of knowledge. Arctic Anthropology, 36 (1-2), 1-18.

Nakashima, D. (1993). Astute Observers on the Sea Ice Edge: Inuit Knowledge as a Basis for Arctic Co-Management. In Inglis, J.T. (Ed.), Traditional ecological knowledge concepts and cases (pp. 1-133). International Program on Traditional Ecological Knowledge: Canadian Museum of Nature, Ottawa Ontario.

Nuttall, M., Berkes, F., Forbes, B., Kofinas, G., Vlassova, T., & Wenzel, G. (2005). Hunting, Herding, Fishing and Gathering: Indigenous Peoples and Renewable Resource Use in the Arctic. In C. Symon, L. Arris and B. Heal (Editors), Arctic Climate Impact Assessment (pp.661-702). New York, NY: Cambridge University Press.

Oakes, J.E., & Riewe, R.R. (1997). Culture, Economy, and Ecology: Case Studies from the Circumpolar Arctic. Millbrook, Ontario: Cider Press.

Reeves, R.R. & St. Aubin, D.J. (2001). Beluga and Narwhals: Application ofNew Technology to Whale Science in the Arctic. Arctic, 54(3), iii-vi.

Richard, P.R. (1991). Abundance and distribution of narwhals (Monodon monoceros) in northern Hudson Bay. Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci., 48, 276-283.

Richard, P.R., Pike, D.G. (1993). Small whale co-management in the eastern Canadian arctic: a case history and analysis. Arctic, 46(2), 138-143.

Richard, P., Weaver, P., Dueck, L., and Barber, D. (1994). Distribution and numbers of Canadian High Arctic narwhals (Monodon monoceros) in August 1984. Meddelelser om Granland, Bioscience, 39, 41 - 50.

Usher, P.J. (2000). Traditional Ecological Knowledge in Environmental Assessment and Management. Arctic, 53(2), 183-193.

23 Chapter 2. Migration route and seasonal home range of the Northern Hudson Bay narwhal (Monodon monoceros)

2.1. Abstract

The northern Hudson Bay narwhal {Monodon monoceros) population gathers in the area of Repulse Bay, Nunavut in the summer seasoa This population is hunted by focal Inuit and co-managed by the Nunavut Wildlife Management Board and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans. There is some uncertainty as to the size of the population, what migration route this population takes to its wintering areas, if its winter range overlaps with that of other narwhal populations and, while migrating, whether it is hunted by other communities.

The purpose of this research is to provide summer home range data to determine if past aerial surveys covered appropriate areas and for determining boundaries of future aerial population surveys; to determine if this population is geographically separate from other narwhal populations; and to add to written documentation of local knowledge on the distribution of the species.

Five narwhals were tagged with satellite tracking devices in August 2006 and four narwhals were instrumented in August 2007 in the vicinity of Repulse Bay, Nunavut. Whales were tracked using the ARGOS system for 100 to 305 days with two of the tags transmitting long enough to show the beginning of the migration from wintering grounds back to summer grounds in early May. Location data were filtered using a movement state-space model as well as by location quality. Home range size was calculated using 95% and 50% kernel estimates. In addition, seventeen hunters and elders were interviewed in the community of Repulse Bay in order to gather local knowledge of the species to add to the scientific analysis. Results of local and scientific knowledge suggest that a portion of the summer home range fells to the east of past aerial survey coverage and that winter range does not overlap with that of other narwhal populations. Migration route of tracked animals coincide with local knowledge of narwhal migration and suggests that this population is likely rarely hunted by other communities en-route between summer and winter grounds.

24 2.2. Introduction

The narwhal (Monodon monoceros) is an Arctic cetacean known to travel between bays

and fjords in the summer and deep offshore areas of heavy pack ice in the winter (Laidre

et aL, 2002). Narwhals are thought to return to the same locations in the Arctic year after

year (Laidre et aL, 2004), however, limited information is available on narwhal migration

routes and summer and winter home ranges due to the difficulty and expense in gathering

such data (Heide-Jorgensen et aL, 2003). Ice, water depth and the presence of upwellings

may all play key roles in habitat selection (Heide-Jergensen et aL, 2002; Laidre et aL,

2004).

The northern Hudson Bay (NHB) narwhal is one of three narwhal populations that

inhabit arctic waters (Strong, 1988). It is thought that the NHB narwhal migrates between north western Hudson Bay (largely Repulse Bay, Lyon Inlet, Frozen Straight,

and Western Foxe Basin) in the summer to eastern Hudson Strait in the winter (Richard,

1991; Fisheries and Oceans Canada, 1998).

25 Hamlet of Pepjlso Bay

Lyon Inlet N Repulse Bay Gore Bay +

=5[l -f^Hurd Channel

^

# < • Vansittart Island ^ i. • ^ "White 'sland 05. / c Foxe Basin 8

Southampton Island 20 0 20 40 Kilometers

Figure 1. Local area map showing the region where the NHB narwhal is known to summer (Basemap:ESRI ArcUSA)

The NHB narwhal population is known to be hunted by Inuit mainly from Repulse Bay

(Naujaat), and occasionally from five other communities in Nunavut: Chesterfield Inlet

(Igluligaarjuk), Coral Harbour (Salliq), Rankin Inlet (Kangiqliniq), Whale Cove

(Tikirarjuaq), and Cape Dorset (Kingait) (Fisheries and Oceans Canada, 1998). The

harvest of this population is currently co-managed by the local Hunters and Trappers

Organization (HTO), the Nunavut Wildlife Management Board (NWMB) and the

Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO).

26 There is some uncertainty about summer home range size of the NHB narwhal, exactly where this narwhal population migrates in the winter, and whether it is hunted intensively by communities other than Repulse Bay along its migration route. Further information on this population is needed for management purposes.

In order to gain a better understanding of the population for management purposes satellite tracking and aerial surveys were utilized along with Inuit Traditional Ecological

Knowledge (TEK). Combining TEK and science is useful in that they can each provide different types and spatial extents of information (Usher, 2000). This can be especially valuable in remote locations where scientific data can only be gathered for short periods of time (Ferguson et al. 1998). Further, engaging all stakeholders in the research process is invaluable in the process to creating sustainable management plans (Gilchrist et aL

2005).

In this study, narwhal migration data from Repulse Bay community members and satellite tracking data was analyzed to determine if the population is hunted outside of the summer range. This study also estimated narwhal summer home range, calculated from satellite tracking data, to determine if past aerial population surveys covered it completely. Finally, winter range was estimated to determine if this population overlaps with the winter range of other populations from the Baffin Bay and Melville Bay stocks.

Home range analysis has been done in the past for Baffin Bay and Melville Bay narwhal populations that summer in the High Arctic, but not for the Hudson Bay population.

27 2.3. Methods

For the purpose of this research, both scientific and traditional knowledge were utilized.

Past aerial population surveys referred to in this paper were designed with the use of hunter knowledge. In this research, the strategy was to employ sequential procedures, in that community based research with the assistance and depth of local hunters' knowledge was used to elaborate on scientific findings (Creswell, 2003).

2.3.1. Satellite Telemetry

Capture and Instrumentation

In order to deploy the satellite tags, safe and effective capture and handling techniques

(following DFO standard operating procedures) were followed. The tagging techniques adhered to DFO scientific permits and Animal Care Committee protocols and were supported by local Hunter and Trapper Organizations (Jack Orr, personal communication,

February 2, 2007).

In 2006 and 2007, nine narwhals were caught and fitted with satellite transmitters in the

Repulse Bay area. Five were tagged in August of 2006 and four in August of 2007. They were caught in Lyon Inlet (approximately 66°30'N, 84°00'W) and Repulse Bay

(66031'19"N, 86°14'06"W) respectively. All nine whales were caught using the same stationary net technique whereby a mesh net is set up perpendicular to the shore, anchored to the land and extending out into the sea. The net was dotted with buoys along its length to keep it afloat and the bottom contained a lead line to keep it perpendicular in

28 the water column. The net was under watch twenty-four hours a day for any sign of whales near or in the net (Orr et al., 2001).

Once caught in the net, animals were brought to the surface, freed from any net entanglement and secured with straps and a hoop net before attaching the satellite tracking device. The satellite tags used were SPLASH tags (Wildlife Computers,

Redmond, WA, USA) in both years. Tags were programmed to provide information on location, dive duration, dive depth and time at depth. During the months of August and

September, tags were set to transmit information up to a maximum of 400 times per day.

During the rest of the year tags were set to transmit programmed information every four days to a maximum of 100 times throughout each day to save battery life. The transmitters were attached to each whale by nylon pins inserted through the skin and fat below the dorsal ridge (Figure 2). Standard body length, tusk length (where applicable), fluke width, and sex were recorded prior to release (Table 1). Scarring patterns were also noted and photographed. The interval between capture and release did not last more than an hour for any given individual, and averaged about half an hour.

Table 1 Individual narwhal s atellite-tag ged over two years used in this study Date Tagged Body Fluke Tusk Transmission PTT Transmitter Year in Length Width Length Date of last Duration ID Type Tagged August (cm) (cm) (cm) Sex position (days) 57595 SPLASH 2006 437 112 152(broken) M June 11/07 305 57596 SPLASH 2006 396 86 NA F June 3/07 297 57597 SPLASH 2006 262 66 27 M Dec 24/06 146 57598 SPLASH 2006 353 ND 91 M Apr 20/07 253 57599 SPLASH 2006 396 89 NA F Apr 4/07 237 36641 SPLASH 2007 8 400 90 NA F Nov 15/07 100 40152 SPLASH 2007 9 375 89 98 M Dec 9/07 123 37024 SPLASH 2007 9 385 92 110 M Dec 17/07 131 40622 SPLASH 2007 10 364 91 101 M Nov 22/07 105 *ND = no data available *NA = not applicable

29 Figure 2. SPLASH satellite transrrritterattached to narwhal and ready for release in 2007 (Photo Credit: KW)

Data Collection and Analysis

Instrumented narwhals were tracked using the ARGOS System

(http://www.clsamerica.com) from 100 (PTT 36641) to 305 days (PTT 57595). This satellite tracking system consisted of a satellite transmitter called a platform terminal transmitter (PTT) attached to the narwhal, the ARGOS System (CLS Group Inc) which uses an array of polar-orbiting satellites, and ground based receiving and processing stations that receives the satellite data and calculates location and other informatioa

Location qualities are assigned to each location provided by ARGOS and express the degree of accuracy associated with that location Location qualities are expressed as numbers and letters, 3 to 0 followed by A and B. The best quality location is 3,

30 representing an accuracy of <150 m, followed by 2 (between 150 and 350 m), 1 (between

350 and 1000 m), 0 (>1000 m), and A and B with no exact degree of position accuracy given by ARGOS.

Given the range of accuracy of the data filtering is required. Also, irregularly spaced data can skew results because of heavy weighting in areas where more data is available

(DeSolla et aL, 1999). There are different options for filtering location data. Heide-

J0rgensen et al. (2003) and Laidre et aL (2003) averaged daily positions to minimize autocorrelation and only used location of quality 1 to 3. Heide-Jorgensen et aL (2002) used a combination of points 1 to 3 and location quality points 0, A and B if they made biological sense. In this thesis, two methods were chosen to independently analyze the data, determine if they may give different results, and asses if one method is better than the other.

In the first method, all location data points regardless of their quality were used and locations were recalculated using a movement state-space model created by Jonsen et aL

(2005). Jonsen et aL (2005) created a way to use all the data while accounting for the inaccuracy of the locations and their irregularly spaced intervals. The state-space model takes all given location data and predicts future locations based on error and likelihood that are evenly spaced in time. The state-space model was chosen in order to not lose any data as Jonsen et al. (2005) pointed out that ignoring any portion of available information was a loss of valuable ecological data. Their model estimates the most likely locations along the path that an animal would have taken, given the raw location data obtained

31 from ARGOS and accounting for the precision of the ARGOS satellite location

Estimated locations generated by the model were plotted in ArcView® 3.3

(Environmental Systems Research Institute Inc., Redlands, California) to display migration route. Estimated location data were also used to calculate winter and summer home ranges.

The second method used was to filter locations based simply on location quality.

Location quality points 1 through 3 only were retained. This method was chosen for its simplicity and as an alternative to compare with the state-space model results. Although this method is not perfect because it removes a considerable amount of data from the calculations, for the purposes of research it provides a sufficient level of accuracy.

Filtered location data were plotted in ArcView® 3.3 (Environmental Systems Research

Institute Inc., Redlands, California) and used to calculate winter and summer home ranges.

Summer and winter home range was calculated using 95% and 50% kernel density estimates using the Animal Movement extension in ArcView® (Hooge & Eichenlaub,

2000) to compare to past aerial survey range and winter range of Baffin Bay narwhal subpopulations. The kernel generates a probability of finding an animal in the area based on the location data provided (DeSolla et aL, 1999) and displays the animal's use of the area in density contours around the location points. Calculating and displaying home range in 95% and 50% kernels was chosen because this estimator provides visual representation of high density areas, is less sensitive to sample size than other estimators

32 (Hooge et aL, 1999), and is commonly used by others in the field, making it comparable.

This method has been used by Heide-Jorgensen et al. (2003), Dietz et aL (2001) and

Laidre et aL (2003) among others. A fixed kernel with an ad hoc choice of A was used as this is considered a good choice over least-squares validation of h when not looking at movement in fine detail (Worton, 1989) and is more comparable between studies as it is based on location data (Hooge et aL, 1999). Kernels provide a way in which to smooth the data and h is a parameter in the formula that can determine the amount of detail given in the output.

2.3.2. Traditional Ecological Knowledge

Traditional Ecological Knowledge documentation of the NHB narwhal population in the community of Repulse Bay took place with the direction and consent of community leaders and willing participants (see Appendix I and II). The researcher received consent from the Nunavut Research Institute and the local Hunters and Trapper Organization

(Arviq Hunters and Trappers Organization) to come to the community and talk with elders and hunters about narwhal prior to the start of the research.

Semi-structured (or semi-directive) interviews were conducted to gather information about this narwhal population from participants within the community of Repulse Bay.

The semi-structured interview has been effective in other projects involving Traditional

Ecological Knowledge and wildlife. For example, Huntington (1998) used semi- structured individual and group interviews to document TEK of northwestern Alaskan

33 beluga on topics such as migration, population and feeding. Huntington found the semi- structured interview to be a "powerful method for documenting TEK" (p. 241). There are several advantages for applying this type of method. Firstly, it provides some guidelines but still allowing for flexibility during the interview. The researcher has the ability to develop questions and encourage the participant to elaborate as the dialogue continues.

Secondly, it can provide an environment to allow the researcher to establish a rapport with the participant in that there are questions to be asked but the dialogue is flowing in and around those points allowing each to be comfortable sharing information and knowledge. Thirdly, this form of qualitative research is suitable in a variety of community settings (on a boat, walking, in a home etc.) because no set order of questions is required for comparison.

The interviews required the researcher to have specific topics in mind prior to the interview from which open ended questions were able to develop during the interview

(see Appendix III). Research by Gonzalez (2001) on the Traditional Ecological

Knowledge of the NHB narwhal from people in the community of Repulse Bay was used as a point of reference of topics that had previously been covered.

Seventeen community members were interviewed (Table 2). Participants interviewed were drawn from a list of potential interviewees created by the Arviq Hunters and

Trappers Organization and the project interpreter, Marius Tungilik. Participants agreed to have their names acknowledged in the text as the source of information but not have their names attached to specific comments.

34 Table 2. Repulse Bay community participants Honore Aglukka Michel Akkuardjuk Louis Angogingoar John Ignerdjuk John Ivalutanar Sata Kidlapik Laurent Kringayark Laimmiki Malliki Quviq Malliki Seemee Malliki Donat Milortok Luky Putulik Pie Sanertanut Antoine Siatsiak Mark Tagornak Charlie Tinashlu David Tuktudjuk

Most participants have spent the majority of their lives in the Repulse Bay area and were still actively involved in hunting on the water in the Repulse Bay area at the time of the interview. Information relayed by the participants during the interviews was openly expressed as knowledge from personal experience and observations as well as knowledge passed down through generations and from others in the community. Results were grouped into related categories and from there comments were scanned to look for patterns in the data in order to summarize results.

35 2.4. Results

2.4.1. Satellite Telemetry

Satellite transmission tags from all nine whales captured in 2006 and 2007 provided good quality locations over the month of August. Five tags from 2006 provided location data over the winter season but only two were still transmitting data at the time whales began migration back to their summering grounds in early May. None of the four tags from

2007 transmitted past December, and thus did not provide any information on wintering grounds.

Summer and winter home range kernels were similar in shape using the location quality filtered data set (using location quality points 1 to 3 only) or Jonsen's state-space model data set (see Figures 3-6); but, the modeled data set produced larger home ranges in summer and winter 2006 than the filtered data set. This is due to the feet that the modeled dataset has more locations and probably also results from of the regular interval of the modeled data set, but does not account for the modeled data set being smaller in summer 2007. The differences, however, in the summer data sets are inconsequential as future aerial surveys would cover a larger extent. Further calculations below use only the modeled data as it provides a more precise estimation in calculation of home range area.

36 +

SO Kilometers

Figure 3. August 2006 NHB narwhal summer home range displaying 95% kernel probability home ranges as determined by satellite telemetry (Basemap:ESRI ArcUSA). Kernel areas generated by Jonsen's state space model modeled data are shown in dark gray, and areas generated from location quality filtered data are in light gray.

4"

Figure 4. August 2007 NHB narwhal summer home range displaying 95% kernel probability home ranges as determined by satellite telemetry (Basemap:ESRI ArcUSA). Kernel areas generated by Jonsen's state space model modeled data are shown in dark gray, and areas generated from location quality filtered data are in light gray.

37 IqaliNt + i

& • h Hudson Strait "V /'

Ungava Bay |$L so o a w Kilometers

Figure 5. NHB narwhal winter home range displaying 95% kernel probability home ranges as determined by satellite telemetry (Basemap:ESRI ArcUSA). Kernel areas generated by Jonsen's state space model modeled data are shown in dark gray, and areas generated from location quality filtered data are in light gray.

Summer home range was approximately 7,900 km2 using a 95% kernel area estimate.

The summer range extended from Lyon Inlet around the south tip of Vansittart Island and into Frozen Strait (Figure 6). Approximately 2,700 km2 (34%) of the 2006 home range was not covered by the 2000 aerial photo survey (Figure 7) but the 2000 visual survey lines just covered the 95% kernel area estimate (Figure 8). Summer home range was approximately 4,600 km2 in 2007 using a 95% kernel area estimate (Figure 9). The

August range of the narwhal in 2007 fell entirely within the range of the 2000 aerial photo survey (Figure 10) and visual survey (Figure 11). Figure 12 shows the summer home range overlap between animals tagged in Lyon Inlet in 2006 and animals tagged in

Repulse Bay in 2007.

38 Figure 6. August 2006 NHB narwhal summer home range with outer ring (light gray) the 95% kernel probability and inner ring (black) displaying the 50% kernel probability of modeled locations (Basemap:ESRI Arc USA)

39 'r- .• ..i "* \ '"--.-. / \ ""--; ^

\- - \\ :'••• «• • S \ • . <—•

> "\ \ ' • •.:• -.» • V-

{ I f /

1 -•'•' -^- lk ^ 1 ' " <" -, ' Jll \

.•/J ' ••' V ."'V/ O-^— --v-J i'

•\.^.. ~-,-'' X. / ,>•• -- /

""--.. '•/ """--'

Figure 7. August 2000 photographic aerial survey coverage (Bourassa, 2002) overlaid on top of August 2006 summer ho me range (as shown in Figure 6) (Basemap:ESRI Arc USA)

40 Figure 8. August 2000 aerial visual survey flight lines (Bourassa, 2002) overlaid on August 2006 home range (BasemaprESRI Arc USA)

41 Figure 9. August 2007 NHB narwhal ho me range with outer rings (light gray) displaying the 95% kernel probability and inner ring (black) displaying the 50% kernel probability of modeled locations (Basemap:ESRI Arc USA)

42 Figure 10. August 2000 photographic aerial survey coverage (Bourassa, 2002) overlaid on August 2007 summer home range (as shown in Figure 9) (Basemap:ESRI Arc USA)

43 / / , s _—~7'"""" y ~ X / / *, s

< • < ; \—• -" . \ / J S * y • / / f ' •/ _ > / s '-"7 " / i /_ .," / .' •—-—_ y s #* ~ ' / / / / / t 1 / t 7 1 x L / v ... / / / ' / s / —* S-J%Z- /

A

Figure 11. August 2001 aerial visual survey flight lines (Bourassa, 2002) overlaid on August 2007 home range (Basemap:ESRI ArcUSA) Repulse Ba»

jR Lyon Inlet V

%

10 0 10 20 Kilometers

Figure 12. Overlap of August home range (shown here as location points) from 2006 (black) and 2007 (light gray) circled

45 In both 2006 and 2007 whales begin to move out of Lyon Inlet and Repulse Bay in

September and by early November, those that were still transmitting, were off the north

east coast of Southampton Island.

The same migration route was used both years: starting north of Southampton Island, they passed through Foxe Channel into Hudson Strait (Figure 12). All animals moved into Hudson Strait, passing north of Nottingham Island but on both sides of Salisbury and

Mill Islands. Narwhal arrived in their wintering area by late December, as noted by the reduction in travel in an easterly direction and clustering of locations.

Of the nine tagged animals', one travelled farther north than the others passing by Big

Island but remaining approximately 50 km offshore of the community of Kimmirut. The other four whales followed a very similar track off Cap de Nouvelle France on Quebec's

Ungava Peninsula, later passing between 40 and 100 km offshore of the community of

Kangiqsujuaq.

46 N Lvon Inlet Repulse B?y + : \ % Foxe Basin

Ba'fin Is'and

Southampton' ,J®r, MM Is

p&iiiisiaiiar^fc •Ommiri.t Salisbury Island-^ Notgngj£iam Islamt" H

Kangiqsujuaq ^w^^^»

Ungava Penninsula (Quebec) 50 0 50 100 Kilometers Labrador Sea

Figure 13. Migration route of narwhal tagged in 2006 and 2007 («=9) summering in Repulse Bay area and wintering in the Labrador Sea (Basemap:ESRI Arc USA)

47 Winter home range of the NHB narwhal was calculated using 2006 modeled locations from five whales (all 2007 narwhals ceased transmitting data past December). The winter range was defined by clustering of locations and began in late December and ended in early May when travel in a westerly direction begaa The 95% kernel probability home range was approximately 7,000 km2 (Figure 13).

Figure 14. Winter home range of the NHB narwhal; black inner ring (50% kernel probability), light gray outer (95% kernel probability) (Basemap:ESRI ArcUSA)

48 2.4.1. Traditional Ecological Knowledge Interview Results

Results of the community interviews as they relate to migration and home range are presented below in the following categories: migration route, seasonal locations, density, and change in distribution.

Migration route

Narwhal migrate in to Repulse Bay in June and July and out in August and September through Frozen Strait. They use the same route in and out and are not known to use Roes

Welcome Sound to migrate.

"Their main road is Frozen Strait"

Frozen Strait is known to be very deep with strong currents and a preferred place for narwhal to feed.

It is known that the whales do not go north to Igloolik or south to Coral Harbour

(although they have seen narwhal there on rare occasions) and that the large numbers of whales seen further north in Hecla Strait, Lancaster Sound, Prince Regent Inlet, and

Admiralty Inlet are part of separate populations.

In the fell, when migration begins, narwhal will spend more time in the middle of

Repulse Bay and less time along the shore, according to one participant. Once they decide to move, migration out of the bay happens very quickly.

49 Once the whales leave Repulse Bay they can be found in large numbers in Lyon Inlet where the water is deep.

"Long after the narwhal have left Repulse Bay you can still find them in the Inlet"

They will make their way to Lyon Inlet through Hurd Channel where there is a strong current. Narwhal will spend some time here before moving on.

Once they have left Repulse Bay they can also be found along both sides of White Island, in Duke of York Bay (south of White Island), and along Vansittart Island. Sometimes they will also go between Repulse Bay and theses areas. From here, in the later part of the season, they will move through the deep part of Foxe Basin and Foxe Channel out through Hudson Strait. It is not known exactly where they over winter but people have heard from DFO that they may be near Iqaluit in winter.

Narwhal have been seen along the north coast of Southampton Island (East Bay area) in the spring and fall. One participant also mentioned that he knows people that have seen narwhal in James Bay in the spring and summer.

It was noted by one participant that there is a lot of traditional knowledge attached to the narwhal migration route.

50 • Hamlet cf Repulse Bay • .'

• .. ,. Lyon inlet Gore Bay Repulse Bay i • 4-

• '• Hurd Channel

^ / \ *"" Vansittart Islam! / •---• -y White 'sland' Foxe Basin Froze n Str j

Duke of fork Bay •

Southampton Island 20 0 20 40 Kilometers

Figure 15. NHB narwhal fall migration route, as drawn by two participants in separate interviews (Basemap:ESRI Arc USA)

Seasonal locations

Spring

Narwhal can be seen in great numbers in the spring at the floe edge during break up. In the past, according to one participant, narwhal were not seen until the first or second week in July. Today they can be seen at the floe edge as early as the first week of June.

51 Narwhal are first seen near White Island (small islands on north end of White Island),

along the north coast of Southampton Island, and along the floe edge in June and early

July, and between Beach Point and Cape Clarke where people are hunting. One participant mentioned being camped on the north end of White Island in the spring and observing the narwhal moving back and forth with the tide. Two participants mentioned that they had seen and or heard from elders that in the middle of June narwhal can also be seen in Lyon Inlet in holes in the ice feeding.

The whales will follow the open water and move into Repulse Bay as cracks in the ice form and food becomes available in the bay.

i -amlr.t of Kepulsc Bay t Ha:bou: Islands 4-

k Repulse Bay

Roacn "u'nt

20

Figure 16. Floe edge past (light gray) and present (black curve) winter location as drawn by community participant (Basemap:ESRI Arc USA)

52 August

In August, narwhal move back and forth in Repulse Bay. They also move in and out of the area with the tides.

One participant said that towards the end of August one would see more narwhal down into Frozen Strait.

Fall

Narwhal are last seen in September or October in Repulse Bay (although there was one report in November before the ice was formed in the bay). Two participants noted that in the past they did not see them that late in the season It was suggested by one that the reason for the late sightings could be due to the presence of killer whales (Orcinus orca) in the area.

They are last seen in various spots around the bay: close to town, deep water on the east side of the bay, near Harbor Islands, and in the middle of the bay. One participant suggested that they are last seen in these areas because people are not boating as for due to weather and no narwhal hunting tags are left at this time.

When narwhal leave the Repulse Bay area they can be found in Hurd Channel, near the

Sturges Islands, around White Island, in Duke of York Bay, along Vansittart Island, and in Lyon Inlet. One participant mentioned that when he was growing up in Lyon Inlet he

53 would "see narwhal there until the snow started falling in October". He mentioned that they would stay in this area until they moved on to over winter elsewhere.

Winter

Narwhal are not known to inhabit the Repulse Bay area in the winter. However, narwhal have been sighted occasionally in the area at the floe edge and in open water. Participants noted that there is open water in Roes Welcome Sound, Frozen Strait, and Hurd Channel all year round due to strong currents. Narwhal have been spotted at the floe edge in

November, February and May but it was also noted that the location of the floe edge changes every year.

Narwhal have also been spotted in Lyon Inlet and specifically Ross Bay and Qariaq Inlet in the winter. These narwhal appeared to have been trapped as the ice had already formed in the area. Most participants agreed that if not stranded, narwhal do not winter in this area.

One participant mentioned that he thought that the narwhal from Repulse Bay winter in the Baffin area. Another mentioned that they believe that the narwhal winter in the deep part of the Arctic Ocean where their preference for cold waters year round could be fulfilled. It was also mentioned that they may winter in the deep part of southern Hudson

Bay.

54 One participant had heard stories of beluga (Delphinapterus leucas) wintering near Coral

Harbour but not narwhal. However, it was also noted that people from Coral Harbour

have seen narwhal in winter as they are known to pass Seahorse Point on Southampton

Island on their migration out through Hudson Strait (Figure 16).

. Repulse Bay

N

Foxe Basin +

Southampton island

.Seahorse Point

40 0 40 80 Kilometers

Figure 17. Area location map showing Seahorse Point, Southampton Island (Basemap:ESRI ArcUSA)

Density

All participants had some information to offer on the topic of narwhal density. Most participants thought that the highest densities of narwhal in the summer were in Repulse

55 Bay and Lyon Inlet (specifically near Naujaarjuat Head adjacent to the community in the

Inlet according to one participant). One participant said that these two congregations of narwhal (Repulse Bay and Lyon Inlet) were similar in size and two said that there are more in Lyon Inlet than in Repulse Bay in the summer. It was also mentioned that when there are no narwhal in Repulse Bay you can find them in Lyon Inlet and vice versa.

Lyon Inlet is known to have more females and young than Repulse Bay.

There were mixed opinions on densities within Repulse Bay during the time narwhal

spend in the area. Some felt that the largest concentrations in the bay were on the west side of the bay whereas others felt that they were in the greatest numbers on the top of the bay (community side) and near the Harbour Islands. One participant felt that there was a large concentration in the middle of the bay when killer whales were not in the area. If there are killer whales narwhal come close to the community and into the shallow water.

In the spring when there is still lots of ice and a floe edge, large concentrations of narwhal can be found along the east side of White Island.

South of Beach Point (Roes Welcome Sound, Wager Bay) and north of Lyon Inlet narwhal are seen infrequently and in low numbers. On the west side of Foxe Basin, from

Lyon Inlet to Igloolik, there are normally no narwhal according to two participants.

In smaller concentrations narwhal can be found along the coast towards Lyon Inlet

(including Hurd channel and into Gore Bay), around both sides of White Island and down into Duke ofYork Bay in the summer months.

56 Participants said that it is hard to tell how many whales there are in the area as they are spread out and can travel far. It is also hard to tell if it is the same ones returning year after year as they come in such great numbers. One can see huge numbers of whales together in the summer, numbering in the hundreds. One participant said that he had seen thousands of whales moving from White Island into Repulse Bay in late July.

Change in distribution

Five participants remarked that distribution of narwhal in the area has changed. In the past there were more narwhal in the bay, they were closer to shore, and would feed in the shallows. This is known from personal experience and stories from others.

Possible reasons for the change are thought to be an increase in water temperature in the bay, an increase in motor boat activity, an increase in noise and an increase in hunting activity.

"With the increase in motorboats the narwhal started to move away from the

community. Narwhal will move away from noise pollution like other animals."

Killer whales are also having a noticeable effect on narwhal distribution in relation to their traditional range. All seventeen participants had something to say on this topic. It was mentioned that narwhal movement south into Wager Bay has been observed.

Normally narwhal do not travel down Roes Welcome Sound and are not seen in Wager

57 Bay. Participants had both heard and personally saw narwhal in Wager Bay in the last two years when killer whales were in the area.

2.5. Discussion

Satellite data filtering methods

There does not appear to be general consensus on filtering location data for use in ecological research. Some researcher's preferred to use location quality points 1 through

3 (Heide-Jorgensen et aL, 2003), others argued that 0, A and B might be used as well

(Britten et al., 1999). Others yet (Jorisen, 2005) created a way in which to use all data while accounting for the inaccuracy. In some papers (Austin et aL, 2003; Heide-

Jorgensen et aL, 2002; Vincent et aL, 2002) data was also filtered by removing data that was biologically unrealistic in terms of distance and time from one point to the next. It is important to note that the research question one is asking (specifically whether fine detail or high accuracy is required or not) can play a role in the choice of location filtering. For example if the research question is focused on an animals' use in a small bay, fine detail in terms of accuracy and time between points is required.

Two methods were used in this research to filter satellite location data; Jonsen's state- space model and selection of location qualities 1-3. The two methods were chosen in order to make a comparison in the effect on home range size. Home range in summer and winter was similar in shape but modeled data from Jonsen's method were retained for further analysis because the state-space method is able to utilize all quality location

58 points, take into account of their precision, and because it generates locations that are

evenly spaced in time. This method is particularly valuable because it has the ability to

use the information of lower quality locations as well as high quality locations. High

quality locations are relatively few for satellite-tracked animals that spend a considerable

amount of time below the surface of the water. This method of location modeling is also

preferable because it produces a regular time interval between locations and deals with

the bias that irregular interval locations could cause in home range analysis.

Home range analysis

Performing a kernel analysis of the Northern Hudson Bay narwhal home range was preferable over other home range analyses because: 1) it is less sensitive to sample size

than other home range estimators such as minimum convex polygons, 2) it does not

require the home range to be symmetrical such as an ellipse home range, and 3) it has the

ability to account for 95% of the animal's movement which allows for occasional trips

outside of what would be considered the animal's normal range (Powell, 2000).

Summer home range and survey coverage

The summer home range of the NHB narwhal did not fell entirely within the coverage of past aerial population surveys. Summer range of animals tagged in 2007 fell entirely

within the boundaries but a portion of the range of animals tagged in 2006 was outside

the survey area. This information is significant because additional coverage could

increase the estimate of the population as a large amount of the home range was outside

the survey boundaries (34%) and a portion of the high density usage area (50th percentile

59 kernel probability) was outside the survey area. This data will be used to create future aerial survey boundaries that extend further east in order take the entire area of the home range into account.

Summer home range and stock separation

Data on stock segregation according to summer range is available from traditional knowledge as well as tracking data. Home ranges in 2006 and 2007 show no use of areas north of Lyon Inlet. Participants involved in the local knowledge research of this study stated that narwhal are not found much east of Lyon Inlet nor on the west coast of Foxe

Basin in summer and that narwhal summering in Fury and Hecla Strait, Lancaster Sound,

Prince Regent Inlet, and Admiralty Inlet are part of separate populations. This information is similar to records from previous traditional knowledge studies (Gonzalez,

2001; Stewart etaL, 1995).

Winter home range and stock separation

Studies examining migration routes, winter location, behavior and stomach contents of other narwhal populations suggest that the same winter ranges and migration routes are used year after year (Heide-J0rgensen et aL, 2003) and that winter feeding may be the reason for narwhal congregating in the same locations each winter (Laidre et al., 2005).

Of nine tagged animals, five individuals were tracked into the winter months and were used for calculating winter home range. Despite the small number of animals tracked through the season, there is support to the prediction that the NHB narwhal population

60 returns each winter to this general area. For example, Koski and Davis (1994) observed narwhals in Hudson Strait and in southern Davis Strait in late winter in 1981 near the

2006 NHB narwhal winter range.

Results from tracking data, traditional knowledge and past studies also lend support to the prediction that this population does not overlap with that of the Baffin Bay narwhal in winter. There are two distinct winter ranges in Baffin Bay and northern Davis Strait that have been identified for the Baffin Bay narwhal population (Laidre et al., 2003). The winter range of tagged Baffin Bay narwhal that summer near Somerset Island was approximately 26,000 km2 and did not extend further south than 69°N (Heide-J0rgensen et aL, 2003). The winter range of tagged Baffin Bay narwhal that summer in Eclipse

Sound and Melville Bay (West Greenland) was further south in an area of approximately

22,500 km2 that did not extend further south than 68°N (Dietz et al., 2001; Heide-

Jorgensen et aL, 2002). The winter range of the 2006 NHB narwhal did not extend further north than 62°N.

The approximate southern extent of the winter range of tracked Baffin Bay and Melville

Bay narwhal populations does not extending past the south end of Cumberland Sound

(Dietz et aL, 2008; Heide-Jorgensen et aL, 2002; Heide-Jergensen et aL, 2003; Dietz and

Heide- Jorgensen, 1995; Dietz et aL, 2001) and is well north of the winter range of the

NHB narwhal. At the closest point, there is a range gap of approximately 210 km between Baffin Bay narwhals and the NHB narwhals.

61 56' 84* 62' 65' 58° 56' 72° 52* 50* 48° '6' 44° 43° 70'40° 38°

I 1 I 1 1 1 1 I I I 1 ! 1 I I I 82° 80' 78' 78° 74" 72° 70° 68° 66° 64° 80° 80° 58° 50° 54° 52° 58°

Figure 18. Winter home range of the tagged NHB narwhal circled in black at the south end of Baffin Bay; and winter home ranges from tagged Baffin Bay narwhal, animals tagged in: Admiralty Inlet (Dietz et al., 2008), Somerset Island (Heide-Jorgensen et al., 2002; Heide-Jergensen et al., 2003); Melville Bay (Dietz and Heide-Jorgensen, 1995), Eclipse Sound (Dietz et al., 2001) (Basemap: ESRI ArcUSA)

The winter home range of the tagged NHB narwhal shown in this study adds to the mounting data that suggests that the NHB narwhal is a separate population. Data pointing to the NHB narwhal as a separate population has been shown by organochlorine contaminants (de March and Stern, 2003), traditional ecological knowledge (Remnant &

Thomas, 1992; Stewart et al., 1995), satellite tracking (Dietz et al, 2001; Heide-

Jorgensen et aL, 2002; Heide-Jorgensen et al., 2003; Laidre et al, 2003) and genetic

62 studies (de March et al., 2003). Data gathered on the winter home range suggests that the

NHB narwhal should be managed as separate population.

Tracking data from this study shows the size of the NHB narwhal winter range to be

approximately 7,000 km2. In comparison, the size of the winter home range for animals

considered to be part of the Baffin Bay stock is more than five times larger. The range of

the animals tagged in Tremblay Sound wintering in northern Davis Strait is

approximately 12,000 km2 (Heide-Jorgensen et aL, 2002) and Somerset Island wintering

range in central Baffin Bay is approximately 26,000km2 (Heide-Jergensen et aL, 2003).

This could be due to a large difference in population size; the NHB narwhal population is

estimated at 1,778 surface whales (Bourassa, 2002) or possibly greater than 3,500 when

accounting for animals not seen in the survey (see Chapter 3), whereas the total Baffin

Bay stock is estimated to be in excess of 50,000 (Innes et al., 2002). Less likely in terms

of the differences in area usage, but worth noting, is the sample size used to calculate

home range in each of the three studies. Sample size used in calculating the winter home

range for the NHB narwhal was five whales (four lasting the whole season) whereas the

sample size was fifteen for narwhals tagged in Admiralty Inlet, nine in Melville Bay and

seventeen in Eclipse Sound. Home range kernels, although proven to be the most robust

of area usage models, are still sensitive to sample size (Hooge et aL, 1999).

Summer home range and density

Most participants in the Traditional Ecological Knowledge interviews agreed that the highest densities of narwhal in the summer were in Repulse Bay and Lyon Inlet although

there was no agreement on which area had a higher density. This is similar to home

63 range data gathered in this study and to past visual surveys of densities of animals (Figure

18).

Figure 19. Average narwhal densities (km ) during July 1982-1984 surveys from Richard (1991) shown with approximate highest densities (checkered overlay) from summerhome range kernel probability data from 2006and 2007 satellite tag data.

Participants also agreed that narwhal are not known to be common south of Beach Point

(Roes Welcome Sound, Wager Bay) and north of Lyon Inlet towards Igloolik. This is in agreement with home range data and past surveys (Figures 18, 20, 21).

64 UP - if? **?£& lyloolik i , ^. • +

Melville Peninsula

Lyon Inlel Baffin Island Reputes Bay- .. • • Wager Bay

• #

Southampton Island Roes Welcome Sound

40 0 -40 BO Kilometers

Figure 20. Area map displaying locations on the Northwest coast of Hudson Bay and Melville Peninsula (Basemap:ESRI Arc USA)

Participants also noted that narwhal can be found along the coast towards Lyon Inlet,

around both sides of White Island and down into Duke of York Bay in the summer months although in concentrations smaller than that of Repulse Bay and Lyon Inlet. This

is in agreement with 95% kernel densities as well as past survey data shown in Figures

18-20. However, large concentrations are seen further south in the 2000 visual survey

(Figure 20). This could be due to killer whale activity in the area, as participants were confident that killer whales will alter the distribution of narwhal in the area, or that there would likely be fewer hunters in this area due to strong currents and dangers associated with ice.

65 •CSV •WW » 1 100 i I I km >• Ft U Legend o , ._ :• °5 Number o f narwhals -E - - ~ * 8 * 1*9 s 10-19 i" •• •-'• © 20-29 # 90-39 © 40 -49

'iSfe, 1 •««•

Figure 21. Number of narwhal observed in photographic aerial surveys in August 2000 (fromBourassa, 2002)

-86*5' » » ; V 100 I ___Hr. .1 1 T* Legend / Number of narwhals .' * 1*9 / o 10-1-9 / -1 © 20-29 --7 @ 90-39 1- (H 40-40 •

1 i -8**0-

Figure 22. Number of narwhal observed in visual aerial surveys in August 2000 (from Bourassa, 2002)

66 Migration

Satellite tracking data reinforces traditional ecological knowledge on narwhal migration route. Both sets of data suggest that this population may pass near Baffin Island and northern Quebec communities to and from their summering grounds in the Repulse Bay area.

2.6. Findings and Conclusions

While the sample size for this research is small (n=9), it is not uncommon for research on marine mammals. Due to the expense and difficulty in gathering information about this population, it is unlikely that the sample size will grow dramatically and may not be added to in the near future at all. It is therefore appropriate only to say that results lend support to the predictions about the population.

It was found that past aerial survey coverage undertaken in summer for the purpose of estimating population size did not cover a portion of the animals' summer home range.

This is a significant finding as inclusion of this area could potentially result in an increase the population estimate. Data gathered also suggests that this population of narwhal does not overlap with that of other narwhal populations in summer or winter. This is significant because it reinforces the current management assumption, based on earlier research, that the population is separate from other narwhal populations. Data on the

NHB narwhal migration route obtained from satellite data and community participants also suggests that this population is not hunted extensively by communities en route to

67 and from their winter grounds. This data reinforces current management plans that do not take communities in South Baffin and Quebec into account as catches in communities outside of the Kivalliq region are rare and considered insignificant.

Lastly, and arguably most significant, an important finding in this research was the value found in incorporating western science and Traditional Ecological Knowledge in addressing the research questions. In this research, there was general agreement between western science and Traditional Ecological Knowledge on all important issues studied in this research. The complement of long term local knowledge and relatively short but intense scientific data provides a robust data set in time and space. When science agrees with long term community observation it provides greater confidence in scientific results

(Johannes et al., 2000). Not only does the data gathered in this research confirm the value of incorporating TEK and western science in research but the use of TEK in management plans will likely make resource management recommendations more acceptable to the community because they are involved in decisions that affect them (Huntington, 2000;

Gilchrist et aL, 2005).

There is much literature on the value of incorporating science and TEK (Fast & Berkes,

1994; Huntington, 2000; Berkes et aL, 2005) as well as the integration of TEK with western science (Hobson, 1992; Nadasdy, 1999); however the two kinds of information have yet to be widely used together in research. Reasons for this include unfamiliarity and inflexibility by the western science research community (Huntington, 2000). It should be noted, however, that the use of science and TEK in combination is not

68 pertinent to all research questions and should be used only in cases where it is justified and useful. Huntington (2000) suggests that the value of TEK will only be reduced if it becomes a required component of research and not fully integrated and applied to the question at hand. In this case, where long term scientific data is not available, the incorporation of TEK to address research questions is relevant and valuable. In this research, the conditions were appropriate to use both science and TEK and the use of both improved the confidence in research results.

69 2.7. References

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Britten, M.W., Patricia L. Kennedy, P.L., Ambrose, S. (1999). Performance and Accuracy Evaluation of Small Satellite Transmitters. Journal of Wildlife Management, 63(4), 1349-1358.

Creswell, J.W. (2003). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications. de Marche, B.G.E., & Stern, G. (2003). Stock separation of narwhal (Monodon monoceros) in Canada based on organochlorine contaminants. Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat Research Document 2003/079. Fisheries and Oceans Canada: Science. de Marche, B.G.E., Tenkula, D.A., & Postma, L.D. (2003). Molecular genetics of narwhal (Monodon monoceros) from Canada and West Greenland (1982-2001). Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat Research Document 2003/080. Fisheries and Oceans Canada: Science.

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Heide-J0rgensen, M.P. & Dietz, R. (1995). Some characteristics of narwhal (Monodon monoceros) diving behaviour in Baffin Bay. Can. J. Zool., 73, 2120-2132.

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71 Huntington, H.P. (1998). Observations on the Utility of the Semi-directive Interview for Documenting Traditional Ecological Knowledge. Arctic, 51(3), 237-242.

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72 Remnant, R.A., & Thomas, M.L. (1992). Inuit traditional knowledge of the distribution and biology of High Arctic narwhal and beluga. North South Consultants Inc. for the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Winnipeg, MB

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73 Chapter 3. Availability bias in population survey of Northern Hudson Bay narwhal (Monodon monoceros)

3.1. Abstract

Population estimates are important for development of management plans of harvested species and thereby ultimately important for species sustainability. Aerial surveys are one method used in preparing population estimates. For marine mammals, aerial population surveys require that animal biology is understood in order to account for availability bias. Availability bias in this case derives from animals that are invisible to the survey due to diving behavior. In order to understand diving behavior of the Northern Hudson Bay narwhal, nine whales were tagged with satellite tracking devices in the Repulse Bay area in August of 2006 (n=5) and 2007 (n=4). Seventeen interviews with hunters and elders in the community of Repulse Bay were also conducted in order to gather local knowledge of the Northern Hudson Bay narwhal as it relates to this topic. Of specific interest was time at depth of 0 to 2 meters of water, the depth at which Richard et aL (1994) discovered that whales could be distinguished at the species level during an aerial survey. The proportion of time spent in 0 to 2 meters of water was then used to correct the population estimate from aerial survey. This research found that narwhals spent approximately 32% of their time at the surface where they would be available to be seen by an aerial survey. When this correction factor was applied to the 2000 photographic aerial survey estimate of 1778 (95% CI 1688-2015), an estimate of 5627 narwhals with 95% confidence limits of 3543 to 8935 narwhals and 90% confidence limits of 3817 to 8295 is attained. Data gathered from local hunters and elders suggests that timing of aerial surveys with regards to the narwhal hunt and presence of killer whales in the area can affect surface times as well as push narwhal distribution outside of the survey area.

74 3.2. Introduction

The Northern Hudson Bay (NHB) narwhal (Monodon monoceros) is a deep diving cetacean that is one of three narwhal populations inhabiting the circumpolar Arctic.

Categorized by summering geographic locations, the two others are the Baffin Bay/West

Greenland and East Greenland populations (Fisheries and Oceans Canada 1998a, 1998b).

Narwhal {Monodon monoceros) are an important resource for the Inuit of the eastern

Canadian Arctic. Currently two separate stocks of narwhal are identified in Canadian waters for management purposes; Baffin Bay and Northern Hudson Bay (Fisheries and

Oceans Canada 1998a, 1998b). The NHB narwhal population is known to be hunted by

Inuit mainly from Repulse Bay (Naujaat), and occasionally from five other communities in Nunavut: Chesterfield Inlet (Igluligaarjuk), Coral Harbour (Salliq), Rankin Inlet

(Kangiqliniq), Whale Cove (Tikirarjuaq), and Cape Dorset (Kingait) (Fisheries and

Oceans Canada, 1998). The harvest of this population is currently co-managed by the local Hunters and Trappers Organization (HTO), the Nunavut Wildlife Management

Board (NWMB) and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO).

Due to limited biological information available in the 1970's when the quota system was put in place, harvest quotas were based on historical catch in communities. An increase has occurred since then but recently Repulse Bay has requested a further increase in their community harvest quota. DFO has advised the NWMB that no decision should be made until an updated population estimate is available (P.Hall, personal communication,

October 14, 2008). The community believes the DFO population estimates for the NHB

75 narwhal to be too low and, as a consequence, the community harvest quotas and restrictions may be set lower than necessary (Armitage, 2005). Satellite data and traditional ecological knowledge gathered in this study and previous biological studies will provide data that will be used in the future management of the hunt and a role in the re-evaluation of the community based management system.

N

Repulse Bay. T Baffin Island "?•

Cape Doiset

Coral Harbour • 1*

• Chesterfield Inlet

«es>W » ~~~~~ Rankin Inlet .• "v

^ Whale Cove 100 jj... 100 Kilometers Hudson Bay

Figure 1. Northern Hudson Bay narwhal hunting communities (Basemap:ESRI Arc USA)

Aerial surveys for the purpose of calculating a population estimate of the NHB narwhal population took place in 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984 and 2000. Results from surveys

76 between 1981 and 1984 suggested the population size was 1355 (Richard, 1991), and the

2000 surveys estimated the population at 1778 (Bourassa, 2002). These surveys, however, were unable to account for submerged narwhal below two meters in depth

(Richard et aL, 1994). Richard et al. (1994) discovered, using a modeled aerial survey experiment in Repulse Bay, that adult narwhal could only be distinguished at the species level from beluga at a depth of 2 meters and juveniles could only be seen and distinguished at a depth of 2 meters. Not accounting for submerged narwhal could severely underestimate the population size (Heide-J0rgensen& Dietz, 1995).

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Figure 2. 2000 aerial photo survey coverage (Bourassa, 2002, Basemap :ESRI ArcUSA)

77 Data from Heide-Jorgensen et aL (2001) suggests that narwhal spend at least 20% of their time in the range of 0-5 meters in depth. Innes et aL (2002) calculated that Baffin Bay narwhal spend approximately 38% of their time in 0-2 meters of water. This data could be used to derive a correction factor for the NHB narwhal; however, Heide-Jorgensen et aL (2001) caution that no general conversion factor for missed animals in aerial surveys can be used due to variability in water clarity, geographical location, and seasonal distribution for each populatioa Therefore, the objective of this research was to collect diving behavior from this population at the same time of the year and in the same area as the aerial surveys were conducted, to obtain a correction factor for the NHB narwhal aerial population surveys. The diving behavior of the NHB narwhal population was collected through satellite telemetry and traditional ecological knowledge of hunters and elders in the area.

The satellite telemetry data was used to determine the proportion of time spent between 0 and 2 meters depth. Local knowledge assisted in adding to the understanding of narwhal diving behavior that could be useful in future surveys.

Correcting for submerged animals via visual observation of time spent above and below the water has proven ineffective because you cannot visually track individual whales to determine an average proportion of time they are spending at the surface (Dueck, 1989).

Satellite telemetry, on the other hand, can assist the researcher in correcting for diving or submerged animals not seen in aerial surveys (Reeves, & St. Aubin, 2001).

78 Development of a correction factor specific to this population is required for a better estimate of the size of the population. This estimate is essential in the creation of sustainable community hunting quotas that are capable of meeting long term community needs.

3.3. Methods

For the purposes of this research, both scientific and traditional knowledge were utilized.

The strategy was to employ sequential procedures, in that local hunters' extensive knowledge was used to elaborate on scientific findings (Creswell, 2003).

3.3.1. Satellite Telemetry

Capture and Instrumentation

The capture, handling and tagging of narwhals for this project was supported by the local

Hunters and Trappers Organization in Repulse Bay (Jack Orr, personal communication,

February 2, 2007) and followed DFO standard operating procedures, scientific permits and Animal Care Committee protocols.

Nine narwhals in total were caught and fitted with satellite transmitters in the Repulse

Bay area in August of 2006 and 2007. Five were tagged in August of 2006 in Lyon Inlet

(approximately 66°30'N, 84°00'W) and four in August of 2007 in Repulse Bay

(66031'19"N, 86°14'06"W). All nine narwhals were caught using stationary nets set perpendicular to the shore. This technique involved the use of a large mesh net, 12 feet

79 deep and 75 feet in length, anchored to the shore that extended out into the sea. The bottom of the net contained a lead line to keep it perpendicular in the water column and the top of the net was lined with buoys along its length to keep it afloat and provide a visual to observers of the exact net location. The net was under watch twenty-four hours a day for any sign of whales near or in the net. This method is further described by

OrretaL (2001).

Figure 3. Wildlife Computers SPLASH tag used in 2007 (photo credit: KW)

Narwhals were brought to the surface as quickly as possible once caught in the net, freed from any net entanglement, and secured with straps for the safety of the animal and the researchers. Inflatable boats were positioned on either side of the animal and whales were brought to shore (in all cases but one because of wave activity) before attaching the satellite tracking device. SPLASH satellite tracking tags (Wildlife Computers, Redmond,

WA, USA) were used in both years of this study. The tags were programmed to provide information on location, dive duration, dive depth and time at depth. During the months

80 of August and September, tags were set to transmit information up to a maximum of 400

times per day. During the rest of the year tags were set to transmit programmed

information every four days to a maximum of 100 times throughout each day to save

battery life. The transmitters were attached to the dorsal ridge of each whale by two or

three nylon pins inserted through the skin and fat below the dorsal ridge. Standard body

length, fluke width, tusk length (where applicable), and sex were recorded prior to release

(Table 1). Scarring patterns were also noted and photographed for each whale. On

average, capture to release lasted half an hour per whale. The interval between capture

and release did not last more than an hour for any given individual.

Table 1. Individual narwhal satellite-tagged over two years used in this study

Date Tagged Body Fluke Tusk Transmission PTT Transmitter Year in Length Width Length Date of last Duration ID Type Tagged August (cm) (cm) (cm) Sex position (days) 57595 SPLASH 2006 437 112 152(broken) M June 11/07 305 57596 SPLASH 2006 396 86 NA F June 3/07 297 57597 SPLASH 2006 262 66 27 M Dec 24/06 146 57598 SPLASH 2006 353 ND 91 M Apr 20/07 253 57599 SPLASH 2006 396 89 NA F Apr 4/07 237 36641 SPLASH 2007 8 400 90 NA F Nov 15/07 100 40152 SPLASH 2007 9 375 89 98 M Dec 9/07 123 37024 SPLASH 2007 9 385 92 110 M Dec 17/07 131 40622 SPLASH 2007 10 364 91 101 M Nov 22/07 105

*ND = no data available *NA = not applicable

Data Collection and Analysis

The instrumented whales were tracked using the ARGOS system

(http://www.clsamerica.com) from 100 (PTT 2007 - 36641) to 305 days (PTT 2006 -

81 57595). This satellite based system consisted of a satellite transmitter called a platform terminal transmitter (PTT) attached to the narwhal, the ARGOS system aboard a satellite orbiting the earth, and a receiving and processing centre that receives the satellite data and calculates locations and other information.

Proportion of time spent in 0-2 meters of water in the month of August was calculated for each whale from data bins catalogued by ARGOS as time at depth. The bins collected dive data in six hour windows, four times daily, for the entire month. As most statistical methods require the independence of data (Legendre, 1993), August dive data for each whale was analyzed for autocorrelation, or correlation of the data with itself, between observations in time using a Microsoft Excel© add-in freeware written by Annen (2005).

Correlograms of autocorrelation and partial autocorrelation were used to see if time spent at particular depths was time-independent. Time at depth was also compared to latitude, longitude, and time of day to look for any spatial or diurnal cycle patterns in the data that may suggest that the dive data was not random, using regression. I found no evidence of autocorrelation and non-randomness, all August dive data were used for further analysis.

All nine whales were then averaged to give a proportion of time spent in 0-2 meters of water to estimate the time they are available to be seen by an aerial survey.

The abundance estimate from past aerial surveys was then corrected for this availability bias by dividing the estimated abundance of narwhal by the proportion of time they are available to be seen. This follows the same method as used by Innes et al. (2002) with

High Arctic narwhal population surveys.

82 (1) Pa = mean of average time at 0-2 meters depth in August for all nine whales

Pa = proportion of whales that were available to be seen

(2)

N ** Pa where N*=previously estimated abundance and N* = corrected estimate

Following Innes et al. (2002), the variance and the confidence limits of the corrected estimate were then calculated. The computations were as follows:

(3) var^N **) = (N **)" [cv2(_N *) + cv2{Pa)}

where €v2(x~) =var(x)fx2

(4) V = exp [1.96 X sqrtQn [1 + i?ar(D)/D2

where D=N** (corrected estimate) where lower confidence limir=D/V and upper confidence limit =DxV

3.3.2. Traditional Ecological Knowledge

The Traditional Ecological Knowledge portion of this project was also supported by the local Hunters and Trappers Organization (Arviq Hunters and Trappers Organization) in

Repulse Bay. I received consent to come to the community and talk with elders and hunters about narwhal in the context of this project prior to the start of the research.

83 Documentation of the knowledge shared took place with the direction and consent of community leaders and willing participants (see Appendix I and II).

Semi-structured (or semi-directive) interviews were conducted to gather information about this narwhal population from participants within the community of Repulse Bay.

The semi-structured interview method has been used for other projects involving TEK and wildlife. For example, Huntington (1998) conducted a project in northwestern

Alaska documenting TEK of beluga on topics such as migration, population and feeding.

Huntington (1998) found that semi-structured individual and group interviews were a good method for documenting TEK.

There are several advantages for applying this method. Firstly, it provides some guidelines but still allowing for flexibility during the interview. The researcher has the ability to develop questions and encourage the participant to elaborate as the dialogue continues. Secondly, it can provide a comfortable environment to allow the researcher to establish a rapport with the participant in that there are questions to be asked but the dialogue flows in and around those points allowing each to get to know each other better.

Thirdly, this form of qualitative research is suitable in a variety of community settings

(on a boat, walking, in a home etc.) in that no set order of questions is required for comparison

The interviews required the researcher to have specific topics outlined prior to the interview from which open ended questions could develop during the interview (see

84 appendix III). Research by Gonzalez (2001) on the Traditional Ecological Knowledge of the NHB narwhal from people in the community of Repulse Bay was used as a point of reference to identify topics where good communication had been achieved.

Seventeen community members were interviewed. Participants interviewed were drawn from a list of potential interviewees created by the Arviq Hunters and Trappers

Organization and the project interpreter, Marius Tungilik. Participants agreed to have their names acknowledged in the text as the source of information but not have their names attached to specific comments.

85 Table 2. Repulse Bay community participants Honore Aglukka Michel Akkuardjuk Louis Angogingoar John Ignerdjuk John Ivalutanar Sata Kidlapik Laurent Kringayark Laimmiki Malliki Quviq Malliki Seemee Malliki Donat Milortok Luky Putulik Pie Sanertanut Antoine Siatsiak Mark Tagornak Charlie Tinashlu David Tuktudjuk

Most participants have spent the majority of their lives in the Repulse Bay area and were still actively involved in hunting on the water in the Repulse Bay area at the time of the interview. Information relayed by the participants during the interviews was openly expressed as knowledge from personal experience and observations or knowledge passed down through generations and from others in the community. Results were grouped into related categories and from there comments were scanned to look for patterns in the data in order to summarize results.

86 3.4. Results

3.4.1. Satellite Telemetry

There was no evidence of autocorrelation in the data set based on correlograms of autocorrelation and partial autocorrelation Figure 4 below shows an example of a correlogram of PTT 57597. If autocorrelation was present we would expect to see the lags higher or lower than the upper and lower boundaries of the 95% significance leveL

Lag 1 is outside this significance level and at 1 because it is first in the data set and compared to itself.

1.2

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£ 0.4

£ 0.2 .2 I H w © 4 5 6 • 8 9 10 YZuVfZTl 19 20 © -0.2 Ff +•* JLJl 3 < -0.4 Lag

Figure 4. Correlogram of autocorrelation for PTT 57597 displaying upper and lower boundaries ofa significance level of 95% in black

87 There was some evidence of correlation between latitude, longitude or date and time at depth. Figure 5 shows an example of a regression for the proportion of time spent for five whales in 2006 at 0 to 2 meters depth and date, with date on the x axis and proportion of time spent at depth on the vertical or y axis. We expected to see less variable data, a high slope coefficient and a strong R2 if there was a strong linear relationship between one of the variables and time at depth. There does appear to be a correlation between date and diving behavior, based on the R2 value and a P value greater than .05, however, it is a small effect. From a biological perspective it can be justified to not be taken into account in the correction factor.

_ 0.800 -r £ y = -0.005X + 223 2

o. 0.100 - i o Q. n nnn U.UUU n i I I I i t & 7o, ^ ^ ^ % % % % % \ X % oe oe oG x>G o

Date

Figure 5. Regression of time at depth of 0 to 2 meters forall whales («=9) compared to date

88 Using averaged August dive data, the proportion of time spent in depth of 0-2 m in the

month of August ranged from 27% to 40% for each of the nine whales in this study. The

averaged proportion of time spent at 0-2 meters was 31.6% (CV=0.053) (95% CI 0.285-

0.347).

Table 3. Proportion of time spent at depth (0-2 m) during August for all nine whales Tag ID Year Tagged Average proportion Range of proportion of of time at 0-2 m time at 0-2 m 57595 2006 .349 .189-.652 57596 2006 .286 .198-.509 57597 2006 .314 .113-.572 57598 2006 .400 .196-.668 57599 2006 .270 .164-.467 36641 2007 .382 .230-.569 37024 2007 .305 .156-.581 40152 2007 .261 .165-.515 40622 2007 .279 .184-.517

Corrected survey estimates can be obtained from this data. At the time of writing, the

most recent complete aerial survey of the Repulse Bay area in August estimated 1778

narwhal (CV=0.234) near the surface with 95% confidence limits of 1688 to 2015

animals (Bourassa, 2002). This number, corrected for availability, would be expanded to

5,627 (CV=0.239) narwhals with 95% confidence limits of 3543 to 8935 using a surfece

correction fector of 0.316 (CV=0.053).

3.4.2. Traditional Ecological Knowledge

Narwhal are known to dive to great depths and spend long periods of time below the

surfece. One participant mentioned that narwhal can stay under water longer than any

89 other sea mammal; they dive longer than beluga and have a larger lung capacity than seals.

Time spent below the surface is different depending on whether the animal is being pursued by hunters or not. Most participants expressed that narwhal spend less time below the surface overall when being hunted, although initially they will stay down for a long period of time. When traveling, narwhal surface frequently.

While being pursued during a hunt, dive times range from 10-20 minutes; they spend less time underwater while being pursued because they tire.

"They get confused when hunted and often come up not far from where they dove."

Most participants said narwhal in a relaxed state and with a full supply of air will spend

20-30 minutes diving/feeding underwater, although some people have observed dives up to 90 minutes. A few participants said that they have observed narwhal fairly consistently diving for 20 minutes at a time with rest breaks on the surface in betweea When not threatened they will also spend hours at a time resting at the surface as well as sleeping.

Participants were not sure how deep the animals were diving, but some suspected that they were diving to the ocean floor when they were not being hunted. One participant spoke of catching a narwhal at the floe edge with mud on its head where the depth was

250 meters.

90 Participants noted that it is difficult to follow narwhal once they have gone under water.

Some participants said they sometimes surface where they dove but also appear far away.

When feeding at the floe edge the whales will go under the ice and appear in leads and holes as well as at the edge where they dove from. Two participants mentioned the great distances narwhal can travel under the ice and one mentioned witnessing a narwhal travel approximately twenty kilometers under the ice from a seal hole to the floe edge.

3.5. Discussion

The dive data presented here, from 2006 and 2007, is the first time diving behavior of the

NHB narwhal has been recorded. Diving behavior has been recorded, however, for other narwhal populations. Diving behavior and time spent at the surface, where they would be available to be seen by an aerial survey, has been recorded for narwhal in the High Arctic with varying results. Laidre et aL (2002) recorded the proportion of time spent in 0 to 2 meters for two whales tagged in Tremblay Sound. One whale spent 5.7 % of its time at 0 to 2 meters and other spent 28.7%. Martin et aL (1994) found one tagged female narwhal that spent 48% of its time in 0 to 2 meters of water. A study that included a large number of narwhal (n=25) from the Canadian High Arctic and Western Greenland found that the whales spent 45.6% of time in 0 to 5 meters of water (Heide-Jorgensen et aL, 2001).

Three whales from Heide-J0rgensen et al. (2001) that were analyzed for time spent in 0 to

2 meters of water spent 30.3%, 52.9% and 55.7% of their time at 0 to 5 meters. Innes et aL (2002) combined the above studies of time at depth. Innes et aL (2002) had some

91 doubts about the above results and chose to leave out whales that had a low proportion of

time in both 0 to 2 and 0 to 5 meters of water and concluded an average surface time of

38% (CV 0.25) for High Arctic narwhals. In this research, nine whales that were

analyzed for time spent at 0 to 2 meters of water spent 31.6% of their time at this depth.

The proportion of time spent in depth of 0-2 m in the month of August ranged from 27% to 40% for the nine whales in this study.

The correction factor of 0.316 (95% CI 0.285-0.347) calculated from narwhal dive data in the Repulse Bay area is different from the 0.38 correction factor calculated for the High

Arctic narwhal by Innes et aL (2002). Although the correction factor of 0.38 is outside the 95% confidence limits calculated for the NHB narwhal, no statistical comparison could be made between the two populations because of the small sample size (n=2) in

Innes et al. (2002).

The use of a correction factor in conjunction with an aerial survey is preferable to a population estimate based on aerial survey data alone, as not accounting for availability bias could underestimate the population (Heide-Jcrgensen & Dietz, 1995). The use of a correction factor for improving aerial survey population estimates, however, is not without its problems. Innes et aL (2002) for example, point out that an increased sample size would improve the correction factor used to account for availability bias in surveys because of the high variability found in the availability bias estimate. It should be noted that the correction factor for the NHB narwhal was based on diving data of nine animals

92 in the survey area and is therefore only representative of the population and could change with increased data from the population.

In this research, community members proved to be a valuable source of information in the understanding of narwhal diving behavior. Traditional Ecological Knowledge provided confidence in the scientific data presented in this study as well as added to the body of recorded knowledge of narwhal. Data gathered from hunters and elders in the community in this research could not have been gathered from scientific measurements and is useful in future surveys and in the understanding of the species as a whole.

Traditional ecological knowledge by definition is long term in nature and can provide a broader and more detailed understanding of a species that a scientific snapshot cannot

(Usher, 2000).

Participants in community interviews remarked that time spent at the surface for narwhal was different depending on whether or not they were being hunted. Dive data was gathered after the community narwhal hunt, and therefore future aerial surveys should be conducted after hunting season as well, in order to be consistent when using dive data for correcting surveys. Study participants also mentioned that narwhal spend more time at the surface when travelling. Dive data in this study was gathered in the month of August prior to the start of migration according to location data and TEK. Future aerial surveys should thus be conducted prior to the earliest possible date that narwhal start migrating, which is well into September, in order to be consistent. Additionally it shows that there is ecological information that cannot be found through a relatively quick scientific study.

It informs us that scientific findings can be improved when supported by community

93 knowledge (Usher, 2000). By using two forms of knowledge, combining long term understanding and observation along with detailed study, a greater ability to understand

ecology of the species is possible. In this research findings were improved by alerting researchers to different behavior that cannot be understood by scientific data alone as noted above.

Recorded dive times are within the range of what local knowledge tells us about narwhal diving patterns. Local hunters and elders said that on a full supply of air, narwhal will dive for 20 to 30 minutes and some participants had timed narwhal consistently diving in

20 minute cycles. Satellite data from narwhal tagged in 2006 («=5) showed that the whales had no dives longer than 21 minutes in the month of August. Data from whales tagged in 2007 (n=4) showed that only one whale dove longer than 24 minutes in the entire month of August.

3.6. Findings and Conclusions

Population estimates are important for development of management plans of harvested species and thereby ultimately important for species sustainability. For marine mammals, availability bias is an important factor in making those population estimates. In this research satellite telemetry showed that narwhals spent approximately 32% of their time in 0-2 meters of water where they are available to be seen by aerial survey. This data is important because it provides a correction of availability using diving data from the same region as the population survey. A corrected population estimate of 5,627 (cv=.239)

94 narwhals with 95% confidence limits of 3543 to 8935 was calculated using a surface correction factor of 0.316 (cv=.053).

An important finding in this research was the value found in incorporating western science and Traditional Ecological Knowledge in addressing the research questions. Data gathered from local hunters and elders provides valuable information about narwhal diving. This information provides a valuable addition to the written body of knowledge on this population of narwhal It suggests that the narwhal hunt and presence of killer whales in the area can effect surface times and narwhal distribution which are important factors to consider when deciding on when and where to conduct aerial surveys of the

Repulse Bay area which will ultimately impact the population estimate.

This is an example of how TEK can improve scientific findings. While this research did not observe killer whales or hunting activity affecting narwhal movement and or diving behavior it shows that without community knowledge future research could be misguided. While many researchers have pointed out value of using both science and

TEK in the same research (Fast & Berkes, 1994; Huntington, 2000; Berkes et aL, 2005), integrating the two forms of knowledge is not without its challenges. Despite clear methodology (Nadasdy, 1999) and a lack of common strategy for collecting and incorporating TEK (Hobson, 1992; Fast & Berkes, 1994), choosing not to include TEK or local knowledge in research where applicable has been shown to have negative effects in areas of resource management (Johannes et aL, 2000).

95 Scientific data is enhanced by TEK in this research and can give a greater confidence in scientific observations and make science based management plans more acceptable to local communities (Johannes et aL, 2000 and Huntington, 2000). The data gathered in this research confirm the value of incorporating TEK and western science in research.

96 3.7. References

Annen, K. (2005) (computer software). Correlogram excel add-in, from, http://www.web-reg.de/index.html.

Armitage, D.R. (2005). Community-Based Narwhal Management inNunavut, Canada: Change, Uncertainty, and Adaptatioa Society and Natural Resources, 18:715-731.

Berkes, F., Huebert, R, Fast, H., Manseau, M., & Diduck, A. (Eds.). (2005). Breaking ice: Renewable resource and ocean management in the Canadian north. Calgary: University of Calgary Press.

Bourassa, M.N. (2002). Inventaries de la population de narvals (Monodon monoceros) du nord de la Baie D'Hudsonet analyse des changements demographiques depuis 1983. Unpublished master's thesis, Universite du Quebec, Rimouski, Quebec, Canada.

Creswell, J.W. (2003). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications

DFO [Canada. Department of Fisheries and Oceans]. (1998a). Hudson Bay narwhal. Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Central and Arctic Region, DFO Science Stock Status Report E5-44: 5 p.

DFO [Canada. Department of Fisheries and Oceans]. (1998b). Baffin Bay narwhal. Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Central and Arctic Region, DFO Science Stock Status Report E5-43: 5 p.

Dueck, L.P. (1989). The Abundance of Narwhal (Monodon monoceros) in Admiralty Inlet, Northwest Territories, Canada, and Implications of Behaviour for Survey Estimates. Unpublished master's thesis, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

Fast, H., & Berkes, F. (1994). Native Land Use, traditional knowledge and the subsistence economy in the Hudson Bay bioregion. Technical paper prepared for the Hudson Bay Programme: Canadian Arctic Resources Committee. 33 pp.

Gonzalez, N. (2001). Inuit traditional knowledge of the Hudson Bay narwhal (tuugaalik) populatioa Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Iqaluit Nunavut, 26p.

Heide-Jorgensen, M.P. & Dietz, R. (1995). Some characteristics of narwhal (Monodon monoceros) diving behaviour in Baffin Bay. Can. J. Zool., 73, 2120-2132.

97 Heide-Jergensen, M.P., Hammeken, N., Dietz, R., Orr, J., & Richard, P.R. (2001). Surfacing Times and Dive Rates for Narwhals (Monodon monoceros) and Beluga {Delphinapterus leucas). Arctic, 54 (3), 284-298.

Hobson, G. (1992). Traditional knowledge is science. Northern Perspectives, 20(1).

Huntington, H.P. (1998). Observations on the Utility of the Semi-directive Interview for Documenting Traditional Ecological Knowledge. Arctic, 51(3), 237-242.

Huntington, H.P. (2000). Using Traditional Ecological Knowledge in Science: Methods and Applications. Ecological Applications, 10 (5), 1270-1274.

Innes, S., Heide-Jorgensen, M.P., Laake, J.L., Laidre, K.L., Cleator, H.J., Richard, P. and Stewart, R.E. A. (2002). Surveys of beluga and narwhal in the Canadian High Arctic in 1996. NAMMCO Sci PubL 4:1 69-190.

Johannes, R.E., Freeman, M.M.R., Hamilton, R.J. (2000). Ignore fishers' knowledge and miss the boat. Fish and Fisheries, 1(3), 257-271.

Laidre, K.L., Heide-torgensen, M.P., & Dietz, R. (2002). Diving behavior of narwhal {Monodon monoceros) at two costal localities in the Canadian High Arctic. Can. J. Zool, 80:624-635.

Legendre, P. (1993). Spatial autocorrelation: trouble or new paradigm? Ecology, 74(6), 1659-1673.

Martin, A.R., Kingsley, M.C.S, and Ramsay, M.A. (1994). Diving behavior of narwhals {Monodon monoceros) on their summer grounds. Can. J. Zool, 72, 118-125.

Nadasdy, P. (1999). The politics of TEK: Power and the "integration" of knowledge. Arctic Anthropology, 36 (1-2), 1-18.

Orr, J.R., Joe, R., and Evic, Davidee. (2001). Capturing and Handling of White Whales {Delphinapterus leucas) in the Canadian Arctic for Instrumentation and Release. Arctic, 54,3,299-304.

Reeves, R.R. & St. Aubin, D.J. (2001). Beluga and Narwhals: Application of New Technology to Whale Science in the Arctic. Arctic, 54(3), iii-vi

Richard, P.R. (1991). Abundance and distribution of narwhals {Monodon monoceros) in northern Hudson Bay. Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci., 48, 276-283.

Richard, P., Weaver, P., Dueck, L., and Barber, D. (1994). Distribution and numbers of Canadian High Arctic narwhals {Monodon monoceros) in August 1984. Meddelelser om Grenland, Bioscience, 39, 41 - 50.

98 Usher, P.J. (2000). Traditional Ecological Knowledge in Environmental Assessment and Management. Arctic, 53(2), 183-193. Chapter 4. Conclusions

The research presented in this thesis responds to questions related to hunt management.

Research questions were addressed using scientific data and Traditional Ecological

Knowledge. Conclusions on the research questions and methods used to answer to these questions are presented below categorized as: methods, major findings, community perspectives, and research recommendations.

4.1 Methods

The interview organization and methods/techniques used in this research were successful.

The Hunter's and Trapper's Organization in Repulse Bay was helpful in providing a list of potential interviewees and choosing an interpreter. With the help of the interpreter, the turn out for the interviews was successful at seventeen interviews. The importance of the interpreter in the project cannot be overstated. Proper translation, rapport between the interpreter and the interviewee and trust between the researcher and interpreter are critical to successful research. The location of the interviews, at the HTO office, and the payment to participant of $40, out of respect and for the participant's time, were both considered to be good choices and appreciated by the participant. Lastly, using a semi- structured interview format was effective as it was easy to flow with the interviewee's thoughts and pick out topics of interest as conversations developed.

Satellite tagging was conducted in August of 2006 and August of 2007. The researcher conducted analysis on both years of data but was only present for the second year of

100 satellite tagging. Both years of tagging were successful in that whales were caught and tagged. Pierre Richard, project lead, and Jack Orr, field camp supervisor, drew some conclusions based on the duration of tag transmission and the length of time required to catch whales in 2006 and 2007 (Pierre Richard and Jack Orr, personal communication though out 2007 and 2008). First, three pins were used to hold the tag in place in 2006, vs. two in 2007. Noting that the tags from 2006 transmitted for a considerably longer length of time, and the only known difference between the two years was the number of pins holding the tag on, using three pins was more considered more effective. Second, the field camp was situated in Lyon Inlet in 2006 and in Repulse Bay (close to the community) in 2007. A further distance from town was preferable due to the amount of boat traffic near the community that could affect the presence of narwhal. Lastly, the timing of the start of the tagging in relation to the narwhal hunt is important. It is preferable that tagging not start until the hunt is completed to reduce disturbance to the hunt and lessen the boat traffic during tagging.

4.2. Major Findings

The objectives of this research were fivefold:

1. To determine spatial distribution of the Repulse Bay narwhal population in August

in relation to past population survey coverage and future survey desiga

2. To improve population estimates by developing a correction factor for diving

animals not visible in aerial surveys.

101 3. To determine wintering areas and migration routes to test the prediction that this

population is geographically segregated from other narwhal populations.

4. To add to TEK compiled recently in the community of Repulse Bay on NHB

narwhal migration, summer distribution, and diving behavior.

5. To complement scientific literature and TEK in the research.

These objectives were achieved and major findings were as follows:

1. August spatial distribution does not fall entirely within the boundaries of past aerial

survey coverage.

2. The aerial survey correction factor calculated using dive data from the NHB narwhal

is different from that of High Arctic narwhal, but because of a small sample size

from the High Arctic it is not feasible to compare the mean surface times and

determine whether they are statistically different or not.

3. Data gathered adds to the evidence that the NHB narwhal is a separate population to

that of the Baffin Bay narwhal.

4. The use of science in combination with Traditional Ecological Knowledge has

proven effective and useful in this research. Each type of knowledge offers different

information, in geographical space and time, which the other cannot offer to the

research question. Together provides a more complete analysis and direction for

future research.

102 This research provides valuable information on this population of narwhal that will be

used in management decisions: i) summer home range data will be used to develop the

2008 aerial survey boundaries; ii) surfece time from dive data will be used along with

aerial survey data to calculate population estimates with the correction fector; iii) winter

home range data adds to literature that suggests this population should continue to be

managed independently; and iv) migration data suggests that narwhal are not hunted

extensively by communities along the Hudson Strait but that two communities could be

considered in NHB narwhal management plans.

4.3. Community Perspectives

A number of suggestions for narwhal management emerged from the community

interview process. Suggestions included:

• Improving enforcement ofregulations

It was cited that although community regulations do not allow hunters to leave whale

carcasses on the beach, this is occurring, which is dangerous as the carcasses draw

polar bears into the community or nearby area and potentially into contact with

people.

103 • Hunting limited to larger narwhal

One participant commented that he was brought up to understand that it was important for conservation reasons to leave the young whales. This knowledge was passed down in his family. Since they have choices now, with the use of motors, they should try to catch the larger whales.

• Hunting limited to narwhal with tusks

One participant expressed that he has pushed for this before for conservation and economic reasons. Another participant noted that it is difficult to find out if it has a tusk when you are hunting as the tusk is underwater.

• Monitor movement through traditional knowledge

One participant felt that the satellite tags being used to monitor the whales provides valuable information but that this may not be the best way to get the informatioa In the past whales were monitored through traditional knowledge.

• Allocation of community quota

Currently there is a maximum of four whales per hunter. One participant expressed that the distribution of the quota could perhaps be better by creating a household limit as currently some families harvest considerably more than others.

104 4.4. Research Recommendations

It is recommended that in future research dealing with management of a subsistence harvest that the local community be engaged and consulted and that their knowledge be incorporated into the research process. The combination of local long term knowledge with scientific data provides a robust data set that can prove to be valuable ecologically and make resource management recommendations more acceptable to the community.

It is further recommended that data on the Northern Hudson Bay narwhal population gathered in this study be available for use in future research as baseline data in the face of changing conditions in the Arctic and the possibility of increased shipping in the area the population occupies.

105 Appendix I

Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada R3T2N2 *«** Department of Tcfephunc (20-1) 471-WJ67 CF M ,-,-ITOR.. Environment and Geography Fax (2M) 474-7f»9 environment^eography@»unKinUob.-i.ca

Participant Consent Form

Research Project Title: Movement and Diving of Northern Hudson Bay Narwhal Population: Relevance to Stock Assessment and Hunt Co- Management Researcher: Kristin Westdal, University of Manitoba Graduate Student Sponsors: Department of Fisheries and Oceans and ArcticNet

This consent form, a copy of which will be left with you for your records and reference, is only part of the process of informed consent. It should give you the basic idea of what the research is about and what your participation will involve. If you would like more detail about something mentioned here, or information not included here, you should feel free to ask. Please take the time to read this carefully and to understand and accompanying information.

Description and purpose of the research The purpose of this research is to improve population estimates of narwhals summering near Repulse Bay, to determine if this population is geographically separate from other narwhal populations, and to identify summer movement in the Repulse Bay area.

The scientific data will be gathered by satellite tracking of approximately 10 to 15 narwhal. This data will be added to local knowledge of the stock gathered from hunters and elders in Repulse Bay and previous local knowledge gathered by Gonzalez on the northern Hudson Bay narwhal population in Repulse Bay, Nunavut in 2001.

How will I be involved? • Participants will be involved in a workshop or individual discussion on the subject of local knowledge of the Hudson Bay narwhal. • The workshop or individual discussion will be an open discussion with a goal of adding to the local knowledge gathered in a workshop in Repulse BaybyNeida Gonzalez in 2000. • Length of interview and workshop will depend on how much you have to say.

Risks and Benefits • There are no risks in your participation

106 Appendix II

Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada R3T 2N2 Deparlmenl of Telephone (2IH) 4V4-S967 Environment and Geography Pan (204) 474-76W environment„geogra plrvtS'umiinuoba.ca

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Repulse Bay

Interview Themes: Local knowledge and values related to narwhal

• August locations • Density in locations

• Other seasons/months • Density/locations (where do you see them first/where do you last see them)

• Diving • Surface time • Below surface time • When hunted vs. natural movements

• Winter locations

• any near here (do you see them in winter)

• Effects of Killer whales on movement

• Climate change • Effect on movements • Hunting • Importance of Narwhal • Spiritual • Economic • Cultural

• Policy Recommendations regarding narwhal • Hunt management •Habitat

110