Sarvarjuaq Marine Protected Area Order

Summary#

The federal government is proposing the Order Designating the Sarvarjuaq Marine Protected Area under the Oceans Act to temporarily protect part of the North Water Polynya in northern Baffin Bay. The proposal, published on December 21, 2024, would “freeze the footprint” of human activities for up to 5 years while longer-term options are worked out; comments are invited for 30 days after publication.

What it does#

• Designates a large marine area in Nares Strait / northern Baffin Bay (the Canadian portion of the North Water Polynya, called Sarvarjuaq).
• Freezes the introduction of new human activities in the area for up to 5 years. That means no new projects or uses would start there during the freeze, with some exceptions.
• Allows activities that were already happening in the 12 months before designation, or that were already authorized, to continue for the duration of the Order.
• Specifically allows Inuit harvesting and other rights protected by the Nunavut Agreement to continue.
• Also allows marine scientific research, activities for public safety, national defence, national security, law enforcement, emergency response, and the laying/repair of foreign cables and pipelines.
• Prohibits other new activities that would disturb, damage, remove or destroy marine life, habitat, or unique geological or archaeological features.
• The protected area includes the water column, the seabed and the subsoil down to 5 metres, and sea ice.
• The proposal notes potential penalties under the Oceans Act for breaches (up to $8,000,000 or $12,000,000 depending on the offence).

Who's affected#

• Inuit living and harvesting in the region, especially communities consulted: Grise Fiord, Resolute Bay, Arctic Bay, Clyde River, Pond Inlet, and Qikiqtarjuaq.
• Qikiqtani Inuit Association (QIA) and the Government of Nunavut, who are partners in the work on protection and future management.
• Fishers and fishing organizations (the area has seen some Greenland halibut and overlap with shrimp fishing areas).
• Shipping, tourism and cruise operators who use nearby routes (in 2023 there were 1,364 cruise passengers recorded passing through the area).
• Scientists and research groups working in the Arctic.
• Federal agencies that operate in the area, such as the Canadian Coast Guard and Department of National Defence.
• Foreign entities that lay or repair undersea cables (these activities may be exempted).
• Oil and gas operators — the document says potential for development in the area is low and a moratorium on new licences applies until 2028.

DFO’s analysis says the short-term Order is not expected to cause major economic losses because many activities are explicitly allowed to continue. The exact mix of who notices a change could vary and some details depend on future management agreements.

Why it matters#

• Sarvarjuaq (the North Water Polynya) is an ecologically rich area. It supports huge bird populations (about 60 million birds reported), important marine mammals (bowhead whales, narwhal, beluga, walrus, seals, polar bears) and local food sources for Inuit communities.
• The area is culturally and practically important to Inuit for hunting, travel (including seasonal ice bridges to Greenland), and knowledge systems. Protecting it supports Inuit food security and stewardship goals.
• The short freeze gives scientists and partners time to gather more information and to plan a longer-term protection approach, including the possibility of an Inuit Protected and Conserved Area (IPCA) co-led with QIA and the Government of Canada.
• The proposed MPA would add 1.28% toward Canada’s marine conservation targets of 25% by 2025 and 30% by 2030, and supports international cooperation with Greenland and Denmark on the broader North Water Polynya.
• Because the measure is time-limited (up to 5 years), it is an interim step rather than a permanent solution; long-term conservation outcomes will depend on what follows this Order.