Echoes of the Ocean

The Beluga’s Call for Conservation

Belugas, commonly nicknamed the “canaries of the sea” are beloved and beautiful marine species to inhabit Western Hudson Bay. Belugas get their nickname because they are the most vocal of whale species, using sounds such as whistles, calls and echolocation clicks to communicate with one another. Their echolocation feature is extremely important to their survival as it allows them to hunt, avoid obstacles, and to find each other. They have even been known to sense other animals over a kilometre away!

In Manitoba, the Churchill River Estuary is home to the Western Hudson Bay population, the largest concentrations of belugas in all of Canada and one-third of the entire world’s population! The best time to see this large migration with approximately 55,000 beluga is during the peak summer months (July-September). The estuary locations along the coast of the bay are important places for these large pods to eat, molt and raise their young. This specific population of beluga is a key species to the North’s ecosystem because they help to move essential nutrients throughout the ocean through their migrating habits.

Did you Hear That?

Did you know that sounds behave differently under water?!

Comparatively to sound in the open air, under the ocean water sound can travel up to 4.5 times faster! To put that into science terms, that is 1450 to 1550 metres per second in saltwater compared to 343 metres per second in air. Sound speed increases with the salinity (saltiness) of water. There are also many other factors that affect the speed of sound in the ocean including, ice cover, sea state, oceanographic conditions, pressure and temperature.

Marine animals across the Arctic and the globe are increasingly becoming more susceptible to masking. Masking is when an artificial noise interferes with a sound or signal of interest and decreases the animal’s ability to recognize and understand the relayed sound.

According to the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO), there are six main types of human activities that are increasingly producing more noise in the ocean. These include large vessels (container ships, freighters, cruise ships), small vessels (fishing, pleasure, tourism), seismic surveying (for geological research and oil and gas exploration), industrial activities and construction (drilling, tunnel boring, renewable energy, dredging, pile driving), military activity, and echosounders and sonars (for scientific, industrial and recreational purposes). Over the last few decades, ocean noise has increased significantly and is becoming a risk factor for many marine species across the world.

Sounds like Trouble

For belugas, increases in ocean noise can be detrimental to the species at large. Noise pollution can cause temporary or permanent damage to their hearing, cause physiological stress and can displace entire populations from their traditional habitats. This is not only an issue for the beluga themselves but also for Inuit food security.

Though the Western Hudson Bay population of belugas are currently a thriving population, the St. Lawrence Estuary beluga were declared Endangered by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) in November 2014. This is due to the high volume of thousands of boats that travel through this region every year, chemical and biological contamination, harmful algae blooms and toxic spills in the region. As one of the busiest and noisiest waters in Canada, the population of beluga in this region has declined significantly since the early 2000’s. With approximately only a 900 individual population, this number is expected to continue to decline by 1% every year. A devastating loss for the marine wildlife in this region. Here in Manitoba, with climate change and decreasing ice cover each year, the open water season in Hudson Bay gets longer and longer. This means a potential for increasing vehicle traffic as domestic and foreign powers eye the arctic as a potential shipping route. While this could be an opportunity to reinvigorate Churchill’s port, it could also lead to an increased danger for Churchill’s beluga population.

Belugas in Churchill by perca31 (Sourced from iNaturalist)

A Way Forward

These beautiful species that call Manitoba’s coastal region home need to be protected from the impacts of climate change and industry. National Marine Conservation Areas (NMCAs) are just one example of the many ways belugas and other marine species can be protected, thrive, and recover from the changing climate.

A National Marine Conservation Area is a protected region in the ocean and along coastlines, similar to a terrestrial park but dedicated to preserving marine environments. NMCAs are unique because they not only include the protection of the ocean waters, but also the submerged land, the water above them, take in wetlands, estuaries, islands and other coastal lands. The protection of marine ecosystems can also protect culturally important features and Indigenous traditions and provide long-term economic opportunities such as tourism.

In NMCAs, harmful activities such as overfishing, pollution, or excessive industrial development are restricted to protect the environment. While people can still visit, explore, and fish within sustainable limits, the area is managed to ensure the health of the ecosystem. Safe travel zones for shipping and marine life are designated so industry and wildlife can coexist safely. This allows species to continue thriving, and the area can recover from environmental damage if needed.

In Northern Manitoba, CPAWS is supporting Parks Canada’s proposal for an NMCA in Western Hudson Bay to protect its wildlife while supporting local cultures, sustainable tourism, and long-term economic opportunities. Churchill’s mayor has asked the federal government to launch a feasibility study to explore this opportunity. Thousands of Manitobans have sent postcards and emails asking the federal government to move the process forward.

With your support and help, the protection of beluga and other marine species in Manitoba can be protected for future generations. Click here to support marine conservation in Manitoba with our easy letter writing tool!

Be sure to check out the resources below for more information on the importance of marine conservation and NMCAs in Canada.