Niaqunnaq, Okeevik, and Kittigaryuit areas make up
the Tarium Niryutait Marine Protected Area

Tarium Niryutait Marine Protected Area

Officially announced in August 2010, Tarium Niryutait is Canada's first Arctic marine protected area, covering approximately 1,800 square kilometres of the Mackenzie River Delta and estuary in the Beaufort Sea.

As noted by the Beaufort Sea Partnership, the MPA's key objectives are to:

  • To conserve and protect beluga whales and other marine species (anadromous fish, waterfowl and seabirds), their habitats and their supporting ecosystem.
  • To ensure the long-term sustainable management of one of the world's largest summering stock of beluga whales and their habitat.
  • To preserve the harvesting traditions of the Inuvialuit people in the ISR (Inuvialuit Settlement Region).
  • To prohibit specific activities or classes of activities that could potentially negatively impact beluga or any part of the ecosystem in the areas upon which they depend.

Regional Map

In the map below, you can view the contours of Tarium Niryutait as well as the Husky Lakes/Liverpool Bay area that are also afforded protection under the Inuvialuit Final Agreement. Be sure to turn on the Panoramio photo layer to see globally shared photos of the region.