The Canadian government has stepped up to protect endangered Arctic animals by opening two large ocean sanctuaries spanning a total of 427,000 square kilometers (165,000 square miles).
To help animals threatened by global warming, Canada has set up the two marine sanctuaries in the Arctic Ocean.
According to National Geographic, the new sanctuaries will conserve 14 percent of Canada’s marine and coastal areas, exceeding the country’s target of sustaining 10 percent of these areas by 2020.
The preservation efforts come at a time when the Arctic is not only being melted by rising temperatures but is also suffering at the hands of ruthless human activities such as mining, drilling and fishing.
Tuvaijuittuq Marine Protected Area (MPA)
The Tuvaijuittuq Marine Protected Area will be the largest sanctuary built on the northern coast of Ellesmere Island in Nunavut place.
Tuvaijuittuq means ‘the place where the ice never melts’, and the region is one of the fewest on Earth where multilayer sea ice remains even during summer.
According to the Fisheries and Oceans Canada: “This remote region has the oldest and thickest sea ice in the Arctic Ocean. As sea ice continues to decline in the Arctic, the ice in this region is expected to last the longest. This makes the area a unique and potentially important future summer habitat for ice-dependent species, including walrus, seals and polar bears.”
Paul Okalik, senior adviser for Arctic conservation at WWF Canada, said: “This deal will turn Tuvaijuittuq into one of the world’s largest conservation areas while also supporting local food security, infrastructure and employment needs.
In a bid to preserve the area, no new human activities will be allowed to occur for up to five years barring a few exceptions, which include Inuit rights for wildlife harvesting, scientific research in line with the MPA’s conservation objectives, and activities related to safety, security and emergency response.
Speaking at a press conference in the Nunavut city of Iqaluit, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said: “Freezing any new human activities will help ensure the ice that never melts will remain true to its name.
Tallurutiup Imanga
The Tallurutiup Imanga region is located south of Ellesmere Island and safeguards about 108,000 square kilometers (42,000 square miles) of indigenous marine habitat. It shelters 75% of the global population of narwhals, 20% of Canada’s beluga population and the largest population of polar bears in the Canadian Arctic. It is also home to several species of seals, walruses, and bowhead whales.
Parks Canada declared: “It (Tallurutiup) is a large natural and cultural seascape that is one of the most significant ecological areas in the world. It is critical habitat for species such as the polar bear, bowhead whale, narwhal and beluga whale. For Inuit living in the region, called both Tallurutiup Imanga and Tallurutiup Tariunga by the Inuit, it is a place rich in culture and wildlife.”
P.J. Akeeagok, president of the Qikiqtani Inuit Association, said in a statement: “By protecting Tallurutiup Imanga, and seeking permanent protection for Tuvaijuittuq, we not only save these pristine Arctic ecosystems, but also lay the foundation for a conservation economy in sustainable industries such as fisheries.”
What do you think of Canada’s effort in protecting the Arctic ecosystem? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Lifestyle
Vegan culture, food, beauty & more
Gordon Ramsay Ditches Vegan Hate and Backs Flora’s Plant-Based Butter in New ‘Skip the Cow’ Campaign
- Totally Vegan Buzz Team
- 28th January 2025
Celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay, once infamous for his digs at vegans, has taken a sharp turn in the kitchen. Ramsay has teamed up with Flora, the famous UK-based spread brand, as its global ambassador, marking a bold new chapter in Flora’s “Skip the Cow” campaign. Flora, established in 1964, has long been a household name …
The Top 10 Vegan-Friendly Places in Latin America
- Totally Vegan Buzz Team
- 27th January 2025
Latin America is experiencing an extraordinary rise in plant-based dining options. A new study, spearheaded by Veganuary in partnership with the food discovery platform HappyCow, reveals that Latin America now boasts over 10,000 vegan, vegetarian, and vegan-friendly restaurants—an impressive 21.6% jump compared to last year. Brazil takes the crown as the number one country, with …
Continue reading “The Top 10 Vegan-Friendly Places in Latin America”
VEGAN MEMES
NEED A LAUGH?
QUIZZES
All the quizzes you love to binge!
QUIZ: If you score 11/12 on this quiz, you’re a verified vegan food expert
- Marlon Farrugia
- 10th January 2020
How much vegan knowledge do you have stored away? Do you have to Google your way through a shopping trip, or do you have all the bad E-numbers memorised? Find out now with this quiz. [wpViralQuiz id=27203]
QUIZ: What is your perfect Vegan Halloween Costume?
- Marlon Farrugia
- 13th October 2019
Spook Season approaches. There will be ghosts, goblins, ghouls, and glucose. You need a costume, and you want to it to show off your personality, which means VEGAN. But what to choose? Take our quiz to find out your perfect outfit. [wpViralQuiz id=33494]
QUIZ: What kind of vegetable are you?
- Marlon Farrugia
- 26th September 2019
“If you were a vegetable, what kind would you be?” A question that has tormented humanity throughout the ages – until now. [wpViralQuiz id=31281] Read: QUIZ: If you score 19/20 on THIS quiz, you’re a Vegan God