Bathurst Inlet Port and Road Project Baseline Marine Mammal Studies, September 2004 prepared by environmental research associates for Bathurst Inlet Port and Road Joint Venture 340 Park Place, 666 Burrard Street Vancouver, BC V6C 2X8 LGL Report TA4079-1 June 2005 Bathurst Inlet Port and Road Project Baseline Marine Mammal Studies, September 2004 prepared by Ross Harris, Ted Elliott, and William E. Cross LGL Limited, environmental research associates 22 Fisher St., POB 280 King City, ON L7B 1A6 for Bathurst Inlet Port and Road Joint Venture 340 Park Place, 666 Burrard Street Vancouver, BC V6C 2X8 LGL Report TA4079-1 June 2005 Table of Contents Table of Contents Executive Summary......................................................................................................................................v 1. Introduction..............................................................................................................................................1 1.1 Background........................................................................................................................................1 1.2 Objectives ..........................................................................................................................................1 2. Methods ...................................................................................................................................................1 2.1 Survey Design....................................................................................................................................1 2.2 Survey Procedures .............................................................................................................................4 2.3 Data Recording Procedures................................................................................................................4 2.4 Data Analysis Procedures ..................................................................................................................5 2.5 Survey Effort......................................................................................................................................5 2.6 Ice cover.............................................................................................................................................5 3. Results and Discussion ............................................................................................................................6 3.1 Ringed Seal ........................................................................................................................................7 3.1.1 Range and Population Status.......................................................................................................7 3.1.2 Natural History............................................................................................................................8 3.1.3 Results of September 2004 Surveys............................................................................................9 3.1.4 Conclusions...............................................................................................................................10 3.2 Bearded Seal ....................................................................................................................................10 3.2.1 Range and Population Status.....................................................................................................10 3.2.2 Natural History..........................................................................................................................10 3.2.3 Results of September 2004 Surveys..........................................................................................11 3.2.4 Conclusions...............................................................................................................................11 3.3 Harp Seal..........................................................................................................................................11 3.3.1 Range and Population Status.....................................................................................................11 3.3.2 Natural History..........................................................................................................................11 3.3.3 Results of September 2004 Surveys..........................................................................................12 3.3.4 Conclusions...............................................................................................................................12 3.4 Walrus..............................................................................................................................................13 3.4.1 Range and Population Status.....................................................................................................13 3.4.2 Natural History..........................................................................................................................13 3.4.3 Results of September 2004 Surveys..........................................................................................14 3.4.4 Conclusions...............................................................................................................................14 3.5 Beluga ..............................................................................................................................................14 3.5.1 Range and Population Status.....................................................................................................14 3.5.2 Migration and Seasonal Movements.........................................................................................15 3.5.3 Results of the September 2004 Aerial Surveys.........................................................................16 3.5.4 Conclusions...............................................................................................................................18 3.6 Bowhead Whale...............................................................................................................................19 3.6.1 Range and Population Status.....................................................................................................19 3.6.2 Migration and Seasonal Movements.........................................................................................19 3.6.3 Results of the September 2004 Surveys....................................................................................20 3.6.4 Conclusions...............................................................................................................................20 3.7 Narwhal............................................................................................................................................20 3.7.1 Range and Population Status.....................................................................................................20 3.7.2 Migration and Seasonal Movements.........................................................................................22 iii Table of Contents 3.7.3 Results of the September 2004 Surveys....................................................................................23 3.7.4 Conclusions...............................................................................................................................23 3.8 Polar Bear.........................................................................................................................................23 3.8.1 Range and Population Status.....................................................................................................23 3.8.2 Natural History..........................................................................................................................24 3.8.3 Results of the September 2004 Surveys....................................................................................25 3.8.4 Conclusions...............................................................................................................................25 3.9 Other Species ...................................................................................................................................25 3.9.1 Killer Whale...............................................................................................................................26 3.9.2 Hooded Seal..............................................................................................................................26 4. Literature Cited ......................................................................................................................................26 List of Tables Table 1. Summary of dates, locations, times, and survey effort for marine mammal surveys conducted in the Canadian High Arctic during 8-19 September 2004 ...........................................................6 Table 2. Conservation status of marine mammals that occur along the proposed shipping route. ..............8 List of Figures Figure 1. Eastern Arctic, showing locations named in text..........................................................................2 Figure 2. Marine mammal survey transect lines flown during 8–19 September 2004. ...............................3 Figure 3. Ice cover recorded during marine mammal surveys flown during 8–19 September 2004. ..........7 Figure 4. Belugas recorded during marine mammal surveys flown during 8–19 September 2004...........17 Figure