Iqaluit – On Saturday, March 28, the Government of Canada and the Qikiqtani Inuit Association celebrated the establishment of the Qikiqtait and Sarvarjuaq Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in Nunavut, bringing Canada one step closer to protecting 30 per cent of the ocean by 2030. Partners also marked the recent signing of an Inuit Impact and Benefit Agreement covering these marine areas as well as terrestrial areas in the Belcher Islands, which are soon to be designated as Inuit Protected and Conserved Areas by the Qikiqtani Inuit Association.
Located in the Qikiqtani Region, the two newly protected areas are recognized for their rich biodiversity, productive ecosystems, and importance to Inuit culture, harvesting, and stewardship. Qikiqtait surrounds the Belcher Islands in Hudson Bay, while Sarvarjuaq is located in northern Baffin Bay on the Canadian side of Pikialasorsuaq (the North Water Polynya). The areas provide habitat for a wide range of marine species and support the ecological health of Arctic waters.
The Inuit Impact and Benefit Agreement developed for both marine and terrestrial areas – also known as the Sikulia Agreement, which is “the thin new layer of ice forming in the fall,” – reflects a shared commitment to protect ecologically and culturally significant marine and terrestrial areas while supporting Inuit rights, knowledge, governance, and long-term community benefits. It recognizes Inuit leadership and sets out how Inuit will participate in and benefit from the establishment of these areas.
The Qikiqtait and Sarvarjuaq MPAs are the first new protected areas announced under the SINAA Agreement, formerly known as the Qikiqtani Project Finance for Permanence, and have been advanced in partnership with the Government of Nunavut. Together, they contribute two per cent to Canada’s marine conservation targets, bringing Canada’s total protected marine area to over 17 per cent, and reflect Canada’s commitment to Inuit-led conservation and stewardship in the Canadian Arctic.
The establishment of the Qikiqtani Nunangit Inuit Protected and Conserved Area by the Qikiqtani Inuit Association in the Belcher Islands will protect up to 0.02% (2180 km2) of new terrestrial area and will be the first Inuit Protected and Conserved Area in Nunavut.
(Photo shows Minister Joanne Thompson meeting with the Qikiqtani Inuit Association in Iqaluit, Nunavut on March 28, 2026 . Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) Canada)