Protection of the Arctic Marine Environment And Arctic Marine Shipping Assessment Canadian Arctic Community Meetings June 10 – 13th 2008 June 15, 2008 This page left intentionally blank Table of Contents 1 Introduction and Overview ..................................................................................................................2 2 Iqaluit, Nunavut, June 10th, 2008.........................................................................................................3 3 Pond Inlet, Nunavut, June 10th, 2008...................................................................................................6 4 Resolute Bay, Nunavut, June 11th 2008................................................................................................8 5 Cambridge Bay, Nunavut, June 11th 2008 ..........................................................................................11 6 Inuvik, Northwest Territories, June 13th 2008.................................................................................... 13 7 Whitehorse, Yukon, June 13th 2008 ................................................................................................... 15 8 Summary ............................................................................................................................................16 9 Tour Participants................................................................................................................................ 19 10 Letter of Invitation .............................................................................................................................22 11 Community Posters............................................................................................................................ 23 This page intentionally left blank PAME/ Arctic Shipping Assessment Canadian Community Meetings 1 Introduction and Overview The Protection of the Arctic Marine Environment (PAME) Working Group was established by the Arctic Council to facilitate the protection of the Arctic marine environment among eight member countries. Increased economic activity and significant changes due to climatic processes are resulting in increased use, opportunities and threats to the Arctic marine and coastal environments. These predicted changes will require more integrated approaches to address both existing and emerging challenges in the Arctic. The mandate of the PAME Working Group is to address policy and non-emergency pollution prevention and control measures related to the protection of the Arctic marine environment from both land and sea-based activities. These measures include coordinated action programmes and guidelines complementing existing legal arrangements. Members of the Canadian PAME team held meetings from June 10th through 13th in six Canadian Arctic communities: Iqaluit, Pond Inlet, Resolute Bay, Cambridge Bay, Inuvik and Whitehorse. The meetings focused on key PAME activities: the Arctic Marine Shipping Assessment (AMSA), and the Arctic Regional Programme of Action. The intent of the meetings was to provide an update on activities and solicit feedback, thereby gaining a better understanding of issues and concerns relevant to Arctic coastal communities. A key objective for the northern tour was to raise awareness about the Arctic Marine Shipping Assessment, as well as gather information from Northerners on their marine uses and their perspectives on the possible positive and negative implications of increased shipping activity. Presentations were made relating to the Arctic Council / PAME, the Arctic Marine Shipping Assessment, and the PAME Regional Programme of Action. Participants were asked for their perspectives on shipping activity around their community. The following questions were posed: 1) What are your current marine uses /activities? 2) How will reduced sea ice change your use of the marine environment? 3) What are the social impacts (both positive and negative) of shipping for Arctic residents? 4) What are the economic impacts of shipping (positive and negative) of shipping for Arctic residents? 5) What are the environmental impacts of shipping (positive and negative) that concern the Arctic residents? 6) Are there other concerns and impacts (positive and negative) that we need to be aware of? As the meetings were held in an informal fashion, feedback was provided on a range of issues and concerns. This report provides a summary of the Arctic shipping issues and challenges raised by participants at the six community meetings. Sections (2.0-7.0) of this report cover each community meeting. Section 8.0 is a summary of issues, concerns and lessons learned. Sections 9 thru 11 contain a list of tour and meeting participants, copies of the Letter of Invitation and posters used to advertise the Community Meetings. Page 2 PAME/ Arctic Shipping Assessment Canadian Community Meetings 2 Iqaluit, Nunavut, June 10th, 2008 Background The Nunavut Act proclaiming the advent of the new Territory of Nunavut was passed in 1999, and on April 1st, 1999, Nunavut legally joined the Federation of Canada. Iqaluit was designated as the capital. Iqaluit was formally settled following the establishment of an American air force base in 1942. With approval from the Canadian government, an airstrip was to be built, which was to be long enough to handle large aircraft transporting materials from the United States to its European allies. This air base attracted Inuit people from around the southern end of Baffin Island to come to Iqaluit for employment, and consequently, they settled in the area. They began building year-round huts on the beaches of Koojesse Inlet. Trade followed with a Hudson’s Bay Trading Post being established in nearby Apex in 1949 initiating marine shipping to and from the community. The area became known as Frobisher Bay and it was only years later that the town changed its name to Iqaluit. Iqaluit is Nunavut’s main airport and serves as a regional port for supplies to Iqaluit and the region year round. In late summer and early fall, the city is serviced by a number of sealift operators who bring supplies as well as a fuel resupply operation. A few private cruise ships are now observed to visit the community during that same time. Meeting Overview Ten representatives from the Government of Nunavut, non-governmental organizations and the federal government participated in a morning meeting at the Discovery Lodge Hotel. The following is a summary of the discussions: AMSA: Arctic Shipping Issues and Concerns AMSA should identify gaps in the shipping knowledge base. When whales follow ships, the Inuit see this as an “Accidental Benefit” as smart hunters have picked up on the fact that beluga whales follow the noise of the ships into port. The role that ships play in introducing invasive species is a concern. In summer, ships breaking ice is not a concern, but it is in winter as the ship tracks within the ice often ‘strand’ or prohibit hunters from getting to and from their hunting grounds. Ships will change the livelihood of people. While shipping does make life more comfortable, AMSA must show all impacts of increased shipping to understand the long-term effects. The benefits of increased shipping need to be considered. Sometimes docks are built for the mines 50 miles away, yet, that serves no benefit for the community. It is all about perspective. In the past Page 3 PAME/ Arctic Shipping Assessment Canadian Community Meetings mining companies were told, “build your own town and stay away.” (i.e. if you build in our communities you will ‘wreck’ the town.) Now, things are starting to change so that the town benefits from an activity. A conflict remains between ‘keeping the traditional way of life” versus the introduction of modern infrastructure, contact and transportation linkages. Some attendees had concerns that the AMSA baseline year of 2004 would be out of date by the time the report is released due to the rapid increase in shipping activity. Changes in Ice Participants were asked about any concerns relating to the retreating ice and associated changes, Methuseleh Kunuk from the Nunavut Ministry of Economic Development and Transportation made a number of points: o Iqaluit is ice free in the summer so the ice retreat does not affect people in Iqaluit. o Ice in the outer bay will block the “ice free” bay and as a result, there will be more ice/icebergs [i.e. the movement of ice may be a bigger problem than the melting]. o Cape Dorset has problems with ice flowing into the bay. o 40 or so years ago the bay was choked with ice and maybe this will happen again this year? o If the ice melts faster in the spring then the birds will come earlier. Local Boat Travel Travel by boats takes place in the summer, however, increases in fuel costs affects summer travel. It is cheaper to travel in winter as the Inuit use their dog teams. The Inuit in Iqaluit travel extensively by boat and it is getting harder to get where they want to go because fuels costs and maintenance costs are getting higher. Boating is not cheap. It is cheaper to travel in the winter by snowmobile than it is to travel using boats in the summer. The cost of gas has more to do with where hunters go than the ice conditions. In Iqaluit, the belugas follow the noise of the ships into the bay. Hunters know that when the ships come in they should hunt for whales. Rate of ice melting and rate of ice freezing will affect migratory patterns which affects habitat, and how Inuit hunt. Affect of Shipping on Use of Land