Background

In 2017, a Statement of Intent was announced between the Government of Canada and the Nunatsiavut Government to work in partnership to advance Imappivut (Our Oceans): A Nunatsiavut Marine Plan Initiative for oceans management in the Labrador Sea.

The Nunatsiavut Government’s Imappivut Marine Plan safeguards the marine environment and Inuit interests, rights and priorities. This includes the designation of Inuit Protected Areas within the Nunatsiavut marine areas, including the Torngat Area of Interest (“Torngat-AOI”). The Imappivut Marine Plan would fully implement the Labrador Inuit Land Claims Agreement in the entirety of the coastal and marine waters of Nunatsiavut and ensure that these waters sustain a healthy marine ecosystem that supports Labrador Inuit in being prosperous for generations to come.

In 2019, the Government of Canada and the Nunatsiavut Government announced the launch of a feasibility assessment to consider the establishment of an Inuit Protected Area under the Canada National Marine Conservation Areas Act adjacent to Torngat Mountains National Park.

The feasibility assessment is being guided by Inuit Knowledge and science collected and documented by the Nunatsiavut Government as part of Imappivut (Our Oceans): A Nunatsiavut Marine Plan Initiative and will work toward achieving the goals outlined in the Statement of Intent.

The feasibility assessment will consider, among other things, the social, environmental and economic benefits and impacts of establishing an Inuit Protected Area in the Torngat-AOI. The feasibility assessment includes extensive consultation on the proposed area and is designed to help determine whether establishing an Inuit Protected Area is both practical and desirable. The feasibility assessment process provides the opportunity for rights holders, partners, stakeholders and the public to contribute information and share knowledge and expertise.

The establishment of a national marine conservation area as an Inuit Protected Area would enable the Government of Canada and Labrador Inuit to work in partnership to protect the natural and cultural values of the Labrador Shelf Marine Region and this portion of the marine waters covered by the Labrador Inuit and Nunavik Inuit land claims agreements.

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