Coastal Restoration Fund: Projects in Nunavut

Assessment of the current state of coastal restoration needs across Inuvialuit Settlement Region

Recipient: Dalhousie University

Project achievements: The project involved collecting, compiling and analyzing georeferenced and qualitative data. The goal was to identify and mitigate the stressors impacting aquatic species in each of Nunavut's 25 communities.

Determined during consultations on coastal restoration priorities, project activities addressed theses stressors:

• data deficiencies in coastal habitat health
• habitat fragmentation
• fish health
• traditional knowledge and science

Fund allocation: $1,985,500 over 5 years

Partners:

• Government of Nunavut

Media Announcement:

Government of Canada makes a significant Coastal Restoration Fund investment in Nova Scotia and the Arctic through the Oceans Protection Plan

Restoration of anadromous Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus) and Dolly Varden (Salvelinus malma malma) near Kugluktuk, Nunavut

Recipient: University of Waterloo

Project achievements: The project identified migratory patterns and overwintering habitats used by Arctic char and Dolly Varden in the Coppermine and adjacent river systems.

Installation of 57 acoustic listening receivers were deployed within the Coppermine River and coastal areas of Coronation Gulf.

Restoration efforts of the Nauyuk River shoreline include the successful removal of:

• 8 (100-lb) propane tanks
• broken fuel drums
• appliances
• other miscellaneous garbage

Fund allocation: $1,261,890 over 5 years

Partners:

• Natural Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada - Northern Research Supplement and Discovery Program
• Natural Resources Canada - Polar Continental Shelf Program
• Province of Ontario - Ministry of Research, Innovation and Science - Science and Research Branch - Early Researcher Award

Media Announcement:

Government of Canada makes a significant coastal restoration fund investment in Canada's Arctic through the Oceans Protection Plan

Hudson Bay and James Bay strategic planning for coastal habitat restoration

Recipient: Arctic Eider Society

Project achievements: The project was established to:

• work through the collaborative framework of the Hudson Bay Consortium
• collaborate to identifying restoration priorities
• plan for coastal ecosystems in the Greater Hudson Bay and James Bay region

There was broad participation of community representatives from:

• Hudson Bay Summit
• East Hudson Bay/James Bay regional roundtable

This work provided the opportunity to collect and share community-specific concerns and priorities in relation to coastal restoration, such as:

• debris removal
• polluted sites
• hydrology
• shipping effects
• erosion
• fish and wildlife habitats
• changes in ice and snow conditions

Fund allocation: $220,000 over 2 years

Partners:

• Polar Knowledge Canada
• Google Impact Challenge
• Tides Canada
• Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada

Video:

• Hudson Bay Summit Promo Video (vimeo.com)

Preserving Arctic Charr habitat and Indigenous fisheries in Western Hudson Bay

Recipient: Kivalliq Inuit Association

Project achievements: The project addressed existing migratory barriers that have been increasing stress on culturally and economically important Arctic charr populations in the Kivalliq Region.

In collaboration with Inuit community members in the Kivalliq region, the project:

• identified degraded sites negatively impacting regional fisheries
• restored a compromised migratory route for anadromous populations of Arctic Char

Time frame: 3 year

Fund allocation: $428,630

Partners:

• Hutchinson Environmental Sciences Ltd.

Media Announcement: Government of Canada invests in aquatic habitat through the Oceans Protection Plan

Assessment of the current state of coastal restoration needs across Inuvialuit Settlement Region

Recipient: Dalhousie University

Project achievements: Researchers held small group engagement sessions and roundtable meetings to conduct interviews.

With the assistance of local knowledge holders, the team was able to:

• establish participatory mapping activities (for example, they created a virtual mapping system)
• address data gaps via these community consultations and feasibility studies

As part of these efforts, a website was created and content contributions were made to social media platforms, which were able to increase and enhance community engagement and knowledge.

Fund allocation: $684,591 over 3 years

Partners:

• NEXUS Coastal Resource Management

Media Announcement: Government of Canada invests in aquatic habitat through the Oceans Protection Plan