Nunavut

In Nunavut, approximately 23.4 million hectares (10% of the territory as of 2010) are designated as protected. Environment Canada maintains 16 protected areas in Nunavut, including 5 National Wildlife Areas (NWAs) and 11 Migratory Bird Sanctuaries (MBSs), comprising almost 10 million hectares of the territory's protected lands and waters. Of these 11 MBSs, Boatswain Bay and Hannah Bay, both located in James Bay, share boundaries with two provinces. While the marine portion of these sanctuaries is part of Nunavut, their land portions are located in Quebec (for Boatswain Bay MBS) and Ontario (for Hannah Bay MBS). Nunavut is also the location of the largest protected area in Canada – the Queen Maud Gulf Migratory Bird Sanctuary, which covers, more than 6 million hectares of marine and terrestrial habitat.

Map of Environment Canada's Protected Areas in Nunavut

List of Protected Areas in Nunavut

The tables below contain information about the NWAs and MBSs shown on the map above. In addition to the name, year of establishment, and size of each protected area, the tables indicate how these sites fit into national and international networks of conservation areas. The following entities may be noted:

Ramsar: Wetland of International Importance
IBA: Important Bird Area
WHSRN: Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network
MAB: Biosphere reserve of the UNESCO Man and Biosphere Programme

National Wildlife Areas

No.	Name	Year established	Size in hectares	Notes
1	Akpait NWA	2010	79,146	part of Reid Bay IBA
2	Ninginganiq NWA	2010	336,397
3	Nirjutiqavvik NWA (Coburg Island)	1995	178,328	part of Cambridge Point IBA
4	Polar Bear Pass NWA	1985	263,648	part of Polar Bear Pass Ramsar site
5	Qaqulluit NWA	2010	39,821	part of Cape Searle IBA
Total:			897,340

 

Migratory Bird Sanctuaries

No.	Name	Year established	Size in hectares	Notes
1	Akimiski Island MBS	1941	353,421	part of Akimiski Island IBA
2	Bylot Island MBS	1965	1,282,731	part of Cape Hay IBA part of Southwest Bylot IBA part of Cape Graham Moore  IBA (NU068)
3	Boatswain Bay MBS	1941	6,736	only the marine portion is located in Nunavut, the terrestrial portion being located in Quebec (total area of the MBS = 16,352 hectares) part of Boatswain Bay IBA
4	Dewey Soper MBS	1957	816,599	part of Dewey Soper MBS Ramsar site part of Great Plain of the Koukdjuak IBA
5	East Bay MBS	1959	112,811	part of East Bay/Native Bay IBA
6	Hannah Bay MBS	1939	6,099	only the marine portion is located in Nunavut, the terrestrial portion being located in Ontario (total area of the MBS = 25,218 hectares) part of Hannah Bay IBA (Ontario) part of East Point IBA (Ontario) part of Southern James Bay Ramsar site
7	Harry Gibbons MBS	1959	143,811	part of Boas River and associated wetlands IBA
8	McConnell River MBS	1960	36,803	also McConnell River Ramsar site part of McConnell River IBA
9	Prince Leopold Island MBS	1992	30,399	part of Prince Leopold Island IBA
10	Queen Maud Gulf MBS	1961	6,292,818	also Queen Maud Gulf Ramsar site part of Queen Maud Gulf IBA
11	Seymour Island MBS	1975	5,302	part of Seymour Island IBA
Total:			9,087,530

N. B. More information on  Important Areas for Birds in Nunavut is available in the Environment Canada’s publications catalogue.

Access and Permitting

The primary purpose of NWAs is to protect and conserve wildlife and their habitats, and therefore most NWAs are not equipped with facilities to accommodate public visitation. Unless otherwise posted, all recreational activities are prohibited within NWAs.

Similarly, the primary intent of MBSs these sanctuaries is to protect migratory birds, and therefore hunting, as well as disturbing or molesting migratory birds, their eggs, nests or habitat, is prohibited.

For NWAs and MBSs located in Nunavut, access is restricted. To access or conduct any activity in a NWA or a MBS located in the Nunavut Settlement Area (NSA), all non-beneficiaries require a permit as per the process laid out in the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement. This process will help inform the decision from the Minister of the Environment whether a permit will be issued or not.

A permit authorizing the conduct of certain activities in an NWA or a MBS, may be obtained, if the Minister or delegate is of the opinion that the proposed activity:

• will not interfere with the conservation of wildlife; or
  
• is consistent with the purpose for which the protected area was established; and
  
• is consistent with the management plan for the protected area.

Additional information on entry, prohibited activities and permits in Environment Canada's protected areas is provided on the Management and Activities web pages of the National Wildlife Areas and Migratory Bird Sanctuaries. For more information on Environment Canada's protected areas in Nunavut, please contact the regional Environment Canada office:

Environment Canada - Prairie and Northern Region
Canadian Wildlife Service
Protected Areas & Stewardship
Eastern Arctic Unit
P. O. Box 1714
Iqaluit, Nunavut
X0A 0H0
Toll Free: 1-800-668-6767 (in Canada only)
Email: enviroinfo@ec.gc.ca