Oceans North

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Oceans North

Doing conservation differently. Oceans North supports marine conservation and climate action in partnership with Indigenous and coastal communities.

Oceans North tassaavoq suliniaqatigiiffiik naalakkersuisunut attuumassuteqanngitsoq (NGO) immap illersorneqarnissaanut siuarsaasoq aammalu immap uumasuanik nungusaataanngitsumik toqqammaveqartumik atuinermik Nunap inoqqaavi aammalu sineriammi inuiaqatigiit suleqatigalugit. Oceans North er en ikke-statslig organisation (NGO), der fremmer havbeskyttelse såvel som bæredygtig brug af havets levende ressourcer i samarbejde med oprindelige folk og lokale kystsamfund.

08/06/2025

The effects of the plastics crisis in Inuit Nunangat communities are disproportionately large given their contribution to the problem ‼️

Historically, Canada’s Arctic was relatively free of waste.

Today, ocean currents convey plastics north from around the globe, while heavily packaged products are brought up from the south to communities that don’t have enough waste management infrastructure.

Inuit populations are already exposed to some of the highest levels of environmental contaminants, and as communities continue to practice wildlife harvesting, legacy chemicals found in plastics ingested by animals can pose human health and food security issues.

Achieving a waste-free Arctic requires international co-operation through a strong

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Tomorrow we’ll share insights from an Oceans North report on waste in the Arctic, and the role of the in reaching a waste-free Arctic—stay tuned!

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08/05/2025

The Executive Director of the UN Environmental Assembly calls it ⭐️the most important international environmental agreement since the Paris Accords⭐️

AKA the

In March 2022, the UN Environment Assembly adopted a landmark agreement to create a legally binding international instrument to address plastic pollution through an Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on Plastic Pollution (INC).

Today marks the first day of the INC’s 5th negotiating session in Geneva, Switzerland.

While the committee had originally set an ambitious goal of coming to an agreement by 2024, the deadline has since been extended to the end of 2025.

Key highlights from previous INC sessions include:

✅ Momentum towards a lifecycle approach to plastic management

✅ Targeting reductions in plastic polymer production

✅ Agreement on a ‘Chairs Text’ to guide future negotiations

Items still on the table include capping plastic production, addressing chemicals of concern, funding for enforcement mechanisms, and the need for transparent and inclusive processes.

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This week, we’re taking a look at how communities in Inuit Nunangat are disproportionately affected by plastic pollution and how the can support a waste-free Arctic—stay tuned!

07/30/2025

“The CAO offers a rare chance to do things differently. To protect before we exploit.”

💬 Sheena Kennedy, Executive Director, Oceans North

On June 11th, and brought together voices from around the world to celebrate the Central Arctic Ocean and highlight the call from over a thousand scientists who are asking for a new agreement to limit new industrial activity in the area and adopt a precautionary approach based on Indigenous and scientific knowledge.

Today, we’re happy to share the highlights with you.

🎥 Watch the recap at the link in bio!

📸 Anders Peters

07/29/2025

🐋 Recent research backs what Inuk hunters have long known about one of the Arctic’s most unique creatures.

A new CBC article highlights the role of Oceans North’s acoustic monitoring program in reaffirming local observations of how narwhal are responding to ship noise in Eclipse Sound, Nunavut.

As reporter Avery Zingel explains, a recent study by , (), and the Mittimatalik Hunters and Trappers Organization echoes observations from community members that narwhal are more sensitive to underwater noise from shipping vessels, cruise ships, and yachts than scientists previously thought and what is recognized by current maritime guidelines.

"It seemed to be an understood fact, prior to our research, that narwhal were only affected [by ships] in close range. But, when you speak to the hunters and the elders, that's just not been the case," says Alex Ootoowak, Field Technician at Oceans North and co-author of the study.

In the article, Ootoowak, an Inuk hunter himself, discusses changes in narwhal presence in Eclipse Sound, recalling previous abundance of the iconic marine mammal.

"You were just constantly hunting and enjoying the view of hundreds and hundreds of narwhal passing by…I want the later generations to see what I saw," says Ootoowak.

The acoustic monitoring program aims to inform management of the Tallurutiup Imanga National Marine Conservation Area, as well as future protected areas. Its outcomes will also be used by the Nunavut Impact Review Board when assessing development in the region.

🔗 Read the full article—link in bio!

07/22/2025

In search of a win for the 🐋 belugas, 🐻‍❄️ bears, and 🏠 town of Churchill, Manitoba in Western Hudson Bay

This area is home to some of the largest populations of belugas and polar bears in the world, and the surrounding communities rely on these ecosystems and species for both cultural continuity and local livelihoods.

Parks Canada has begun consulting with Indigenous leaders and the Town of Churchill in preparation for a feasibility assessment towards creating a National Marine Conservation Area (NMCA) in the waters of Western Hudson Bay. These efforts have stalled, but with growing interest in the region, it’s more important than ever that they move forward.

NMCAs are a tool used by Parks Canada to promote the ecologically sustainable use of marine areas by harmonizing conservation practices with human activities. In Western Hudson Bay, this means a future where the belugas, bears, and Churchillians can co-exist and thrive.

Establishing an NMCA would safeguard the waters of Western Hudson Bay while investing in local jobs, infrastructure and monitoring to support the Town of Churchill’s vision for economic growth.

Hear more about this journey towards an NMCA in a new short documentary by Pristine Seas—link in our bio!

07/16/2025

🧐 How much of a problem is Arctic shipping noise for narwhal?

A new article highlights recently published research from , , and the Mittimatalik Hunters and Trappers Organization on how these whales are responding to ship noise in Eclipse Sound, Nunavut.

In line with long-standing Inuit knowledge and observations, reporter .thornhill.verma explains that researchers have found narwhal to be sensitive to ship noise at longer distances and lower volumes than science previously assumed.

“We’re starting to understand that the impact of constant ship traffic is having long-term effects and displacing narwhals to neighbouring communities,” says Alex Ootoowak, Field Technician at Oceans North and one of the study’s authors.

The positive is that it’s not too late to take action. Canada and Panama recently launched the High Ambition Coalition for a Quiet Ocean, an international declaration signed by 37 countries who are committed to tackling ocean noise pollution from shipping.

Canada is also taking measures to reduce ship noise domestically through Transport Canada initiatives and a soon-to-be-released Ocean Noise Strategy, though more needs to be done.

07/15/2025

🐋 Can someone tell us why there isn’t a narwhal emoji?

Researchers from , , and the Mittimatalik Hunters and Trappers Organization published a new study on narwhal response to underwater noise in Eclipse Sound, Nunavut, providing new insight into how industrial activity is affecting this important species.

Here’s how they did it👇

FIRST, the team recorded changes in narwhal acoustic presence using passive acoustic monitoring of echolocation clicks (i.e., the noises that narwhals emit to perceive their surroundings).

NEXT, they used satellite ship tracking information and remote sensing environmental data to track the changing oceanscape of Eclipse Sound.

LASTLY, the team put this information together to assess the relationship between narwhal behaviour, time of year, sea ice concentration, and ship proximity.

🔗Check out their full findings at the link in our bio!

07/10/2025

🌿 Join the Pemsik Mawa'tasikl Anko'tmu'kl 21-Day BioBlitz! 🐚🌊
From July 7–27, explore the incredible biodiversity of the Pemsɨk Conservation Mosaic—a Mi’kmaq-led initiative honoring the deep connections between land, sea, and spirit.

Walk the woods, paddle the waters, or wander the shoreline—then snap a photo, upload your findings to iNaturalist, and help map the rich life across this powerful landscape shaped like Nukumi’s dress.

🎁 Prize Draws for:
🏕️ Most Remote Observation
📸 Highest Number of Observations

Let’s celebrate and support this meaningful work—because conservation begins with connection.

🔗 Learn more: www.pemsik.org
📱 Upload your finds to iNaturalist: Search “Pemsik BioBlitz”

Oceans North
CPAWS NS

07/09/2025

Today is Nunavut Day 🤩

On July 9th, we celebrate the beauty and spirit of Nunavut and the communities that call it home.

Nunavut Day commemorates the creation of Nunavut as a distinct territory under the 1999 Nunavut Land Claim Agreement and Nunavut Act.

At Oceans North, July 9th also serves as a reminder of just how grateful we are to work alongside Nunavummiut, as we work to address challenges facing Arctic ecosystems and communities.

📸 Here are a few of our favourite shots from our time around beautiful Tallurutiup Imanga

07/07/2025

The science is unequivocal—deep-sea mining would cause irreversible damage to marine ecosystems and is incompatible with international commitments to protect ocean health and tackle the biodiversity and climate crises.

Oceans North is at the International Seabed Authority (ISA) meeting in Kingston, Jamaica, to work towards an international moratorium on deep-sea mining.

Alongside various NGO and institutional partners at the , Oceans North will continue to push for Canada to…

🎙️ Reassert its position supporting a moratorium on deep-sea mining at the ISA

💬 Advocate for transparent processes, especially the participation of civil society, Indigenous peoples, and independent scientists in the meetings

❌ Reject efforts to accelerate the Mining Code

It is more important than ever that Canada increases efforts to support a pause, moratorium, or ban on deep-sea mining—working towards responsible and precautionary governance of the international seabed and the protection of the marine environment for generations to come.

📸:

07/04/2025

As of late, Dr. Joséphine Pierrat spends her time searching for sea cucumbers along the shores of Sanikiluaq and, among other important tasks, answering the age-old question: "Are juvenile sea cucumbers cute?"

While you can probably guess what Joséphine’s answer is, we’ll let you come to your own conclusions (but c’mon, look at them 🥹).

Alongside her team at the Mercier Lab () and the local hunters and trappers association, Dr. Pierrat is helping document benthic ecosystems in the Qikiqtait region to support both harvesting and conservation. Qikiqtait is also home to one of the first sea cucumber 'nurseries' discovered in the world.

“It's so difficult to find [juvenile sea cucumbers] in the wild due to their tiny size and cryptic behaviour,” says Joséphine, “and in Qikiqtait we are very lucky, because we have access to these juveniles and can learn a lot about their ecology, biology and spatial distribution.”

🔗 Learn more about these cuties and Dr. Pierrat’s work in our bio

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Hudson Bay Beluga and a Sustainable Future

A National Marine Conservation Area in Western Hudson Bay would protect belugas and provide economic benefits to the region while protecting Inuit harvesting rights. A win for all.

Some places in our oceans deserve special protection because of their ecological significance, while other areas have exceptional cultural value. Western Hudson Bay is both a cultural and ecological treasure. That’s why Oceans North has released a new report called “Western Hudson Bay and Its Beluga Estuaries: Protecting Abundance for a Sustainable Future” which advocates for a national marine conservation area in this region.

Read about it here: http://ow.ly/Z94Z30jICHn