State of the Tarium Niryutait Marine Protected Areas (TNMPA) Report: Inventory of Monitoring From 2010–2016

The Tarium Niryutait Marine Protected Area (TNMPA) was one of the first MPAs established in Canada, and the first Canadian Arctic MPA. The three sub-regions: Niaqunnaq (Shallow Bay), Okeevik (East Mackenzie Bay), and Kittigaryuit (Kugmallit Bay) that make up the TNMPA were chosen as they are important Inuvialuit harvesting areas for beluga whale. The TNMPA was designated in 2010 with the conservation objective (CO) “To conserve and protect beluga whales and other marine species, their habitats, and their supporting ecosystem”. As stated in the TNMPA Monitoring and Management plans, the MPA monitoring indicators (ecological, socio-economic, and governance) are to be assessed every five to six years to ensure they are supporting the CO. The TNMPA is within the Inuvialuit Settlement Region boundaries, therefore the Inuvialuit governing and advisory bodies (i.e., Western Arctic Marine Protected Area (WAMPA), Hunters and Trappers Committees (HTCs), Inuvialuit Game Council (IGC)), as well as co-management partner (Fisheries Joint Management Committee (FJMC)), and researchers working within the TNMPA reviewed these indicators. Additionally, Inuvilauit and co-managment partners reviewed the status of indicator implementation from 2010–2016. Through engagement with partners it was decided to perform a qualitative assessment for the first State of the TNMPA Report. Here, we inventoried the indicator data available, identified whether each indicator supports the TNMPA CO, clarified goals of each indicator, and identified gaps in monitoring. This report encompasses recommendations for future monitoring indicators that will be reviewed by MPA advisory bodies. Indicators that are deemed feasible and suitable for future TNMPA monitoring will inform the new iterations of the TNMPA Monitoring and Management plans, and prepare for the second iteration of the State of the TNMPA Report, which may include some quantitative assessments of indicators.