Qikiqtait Marine Protected Area Order

Summary#

The federal government published a proposal on December 21, 2024 to create the Order Designating the Qikiqtait Marine Protected Area under the Oceans Act. If made, the Order would temporarily “freeze the footprint” of human activities around the Belcher Islands (near Sanikiluaq) for up to 5 years while longer‑term, Inuit‑led protection options are developed.

What it does#

• Designates waters around the Belcher Islands in southeast Hudson Bay as the Qikiqtait Marine Protected Area.
• Freezes the introduction of new human activities in the area for up to 5 years.
• Allows activities that were lawfully occurring in the previous 12 months (or already authorized) to continue for the life of the Order.
• Specifically allows these classes of activities to continue:
  • hunting and trapping
  • fishing and subsistence harvest
  • harvesting marine plants
  • temporary structures on sea ice and travel over sea ice (motorized and non‑motorized)
  • marine navigation, tourism, recreation, and educational activities
  • community‑based and scientific research, including Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit monitoring
  • Canadian Coast Guard and Department of National Defence activities
  • filming and media work
• Does not apply to Inuit rights protected by the Nunavut Agreement and the Nunavik Agreement.
• Emergency, public safety, national defence, national security, and law‑enforcement activities remain allowed.
• The proposal is open for public comment for 30 days after publication (this is a proposal, not yet in force). The Order would come into force when it is registered.
• Violations can lead to large fines: up to $8,000,000 (summary conviction) or $12,000,000 (indictable offence).

Who's affected#

• The adjacent community of Sanikiluaq and local harvesters who use the polynya system for year‑round fishing and hunting.
• The Qikiqtani Inuit Association (QIA), other Inuit organizations, and co‑management partners involved in negotiating long‑term protection.
• People and businesses involved in small‑scale fisheries and potential commercial interest in scallops, sea cucumbers, and sea urchins.
• Researchers, tourism operators, shipping and resupply services, and government agencies active in the area (for example, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), Transport Canada (TC)).
• The proposal’s own analysis says incremental economic impacts are expected to be minimal because allowed activity classes are broad. If anything is unclear about who is affected, DFO notes it will continue consultations.

Why it matters#

• The area contains recurring polynyas (open water in winter) that are critical habitat for species such as polar bears, seals, belugas, walrus, common eider and Arctic char. These habitats support local food security and Inuit harvesting year‑round.
• The temporary freeze aims to prevent new stressors while the government and Inuit partners explore long‑term, Inuit‑led protection (including the possibility of an Indigenous Protected and Conserved Area).
• It supports Inuit leadership in conservation and fits into broader Canadian targets for marine protection — the Order would add 0.74% toward Canada’s 2025 marine conservation target.
• For local people, the proposal mainly preserves existing uses and monitoring while limiting new industrial activity; for the broader public, it helps conserve a sensitive Arctic ecosystem facing rapid change from warming.