“Taking this initial step will create the space to do the work properly—grounded in evidence, respectful of rights, and shaped with local and northern leadership,” said Debicki. “If Manitoba is serious about balanced development, this is exactly the kind of step that puts that principle into action.”

The potential benefits of an NMCA in Western Hudson Bay would also extend beyond Churchill’s borders. Churchill is part of a wider Hudson Bay system that connects many communities whose economies and cultures remain intimately connected to the living marine environment.

Protecting this region would support not only habitat and wildlife, including seals, whales, and polar bears, but also the continuity of ways of life dependent on healthy, functioning ecosystems.

“A Western Hudson Bay NMCA feasibility study is an opportunity to ensure economic ambition doesn’t outpace ecological responsibility,” said Debicki. “If we want a future that includes resilient livelihoods, world-class tourism, and research excellence, then the living systems of Hudson Bay can’t be treated as an afterthought.”

To support this direction, Oceans North announced it will invest $1 million over the next year in research and marine-focused community training and education initiatives in and around Churchill, with a focus on practical benefits for northern residents and partners.

This investment will support initiatives such as:

• Community-driven marine research and monitoring, including partnerships with York Factory First Nation, Sayisi Dene and other Hudson Bay-rooted communities, as well as research institutions with longstanding programs in the region;
• Marine safety, skills, and training opportunities for local and regional residents, with an emphasis on youth and community priorities;
• On-the-land and on-the-water education programming that strengthens local capacity and supports long-term stewardship.

“Oceans North’s commitment strengthens what is already real and economically meaningful in Churchill—research excellence, nature tourism, and northern knowledge,” said Debicki. “And it supports a future where development choices respect the people and wildlife that make this place what it is.”

For more information, please contact:

Alex Tesar
Communications Director
Oceans North
[email protected]

Background

Establishing an NMCA typically follows a multi-step process, including a feasibility assessment before any establishment agreement or legal designation.

An NMCA in Western Hudson Bay would help protect the habitat of numerous iconic species, including polar bears, whales, and seals, that are of cultural and economic significance to peoples across the Arctic. This includes the approximately 55,000 beluga whales travel to the coast and estuaries of Western Hudson Bay each summer—over a quarter of the world’s population.

While a boundary has yet to be determined, protecting the area that the belugas use would cover about 50,000 to 60,000 square kilometres—contributing approximately 1 per cent to Canada’s goal of protecting 30 percent of its oceans by 2030.