Narwhals deemed ‘not at risk’ by wildlife committee

After a sizable jump in the narwhal population size since its last assessment, the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada says the whale, nicknamed the unicorn of the sea, is a “not at risk” species in a recent report.

While the population increased, the assessment did find that narwhals are sensitive to sound from boats and move away from boat traffic, Mike Hammill, the co-chair of COSEWIC’s marine mammals subcommittee, told Nunatsiaq News.

Previously the species was listed as being of “special concern.”

Under Canada’s Species at Risk Act, the committee is an independent advisory panel that assesses species, leaving the federal government the responsibility of responding to the committee’s reports.

In a news release May 15, COSEWIC said narwhals were found to be a “not at risk” species during its most recent assessment.

Hammill said that in his committee’s previous assessment — around 2004 — the narwhal population was close to 40,000. The committee’s recent assessment had narwhal’s population jumping to 161,000.

Hammill also said the committee’s research shows narwhals are sensitive to noise and do change locations as a result of noise from boat traffic, but that has not impacted the mortality rate of the species.

To make an assessment of a species, the committee uses publicly available knowledge which could be from an academic or a company, Hammill said.

The committee did use publicly available narwhal data from Baffinland Iron Mines Corp., which operates the Mary River Mine in the High Arctic region, he added.

Hammill said Baffinland’s data matches up with findings from the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans.

Baffinland spokesperson Peter Akman told Nunatsiaq News in an email the mining company extensively monitors narwhals in the region. He said boat traffic includes other shipping, such as cruises and sealift ships.

Beyond data, the committee consults with specific groups to ensure the report is accurate, Hammill said. Specific groups in this report include the Nunavut Wildlife Management Board and the Aboriginal Traditional Knowledge Committee.

The report also researched publicly available traditional knowledge, Hammill said.

In the committee’s release, executive director of the Nunavut Wildlife Management Board Jason Akearok said his organization “commits to a thorough examination of scientific insights and Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit [knowledge] from COSEWIC, evaluating their assessment of the Narwhal as ‘not at risk.’”

Nunatsiaq News contacted both the Nunavut Wildlife Management Board and Mittimatalik Hunters & Trappers for comment but the organizations did not respond by the time of publication.

All assessments from the committee require an official response from the Minister for Environment and Climate Change Canada.