Tuvaq: Monitoring Sea Ice in Mittimatalik
Tuvaq: Monitoring Sea Ice in Mittimatalik
Elisabeth Hadjis | August 5, 2026
In June, Oceans North’s Arctic Research Programs Manager Benoit Savard took part in the deployment and maintenance of two sea ice monitoring cameras in Mittimatalik (Pond Inlet), Nunavut. Here’s how the installation went, and why monitoring sea ice patterns is important—especially in a changing Arctic.
For thousands of years, sea ice has shaped the movement of people throughout the Arctic, determining transportation routes and sustaining traditional hunting practices.
In Arctic communities, understanding the break-up and growth patterns of sea ice is—and always has been—an important part of everyday life, especially for harvesters travelling across the ice to hunt.
But these patterns are changing, making sea ice movement harder to predict than ever before. That’s why, since 2015, Oceans North has worked in partnership with the Université du Québec à Rimouski (UQAR) and the Mittimatalik Hunters and Trappers Organization (MHTO) on a community sea ice monitoring project called Tuvaq, which means “landfast ice” in Inuktitut.
The project uses high-definition, solar-powered cameras to record daily images of sea ice in and around Mittimatalik (Pond Inlet), Nunavut—specifically Tasiujaq (Eclipse Sound) and Tursukattak, which are key travel routes for nearby communities.
As part of the partnership with the MHTO, the findings are shared online and updated hourly, providing the community with vital information on the presence of sea ice, informing travel planning and supporting safe trips to the floe edge. The data is also offered to scientists, helping them study how sea ice moves, breaks and forms in this part of the Arctic.
“The MHTO members are proud to support these Oceans North programs,” said Johnathan Pitseolak, Chair of the MHTO Board of Directors. “That includes the cameras on Igarjuaq.”
As of July 2026, there are two camera sites running. The first, installed in 2015 but relaunched with new equipment in 2025, is anchored on top of Igarjuaq (Mount Herodier). In early June 2026, Oceans North’s Arctic Research Programs Manager Benoit Savard travelled to Mittimatalik to support the installation of a second camera at Environment and Climate Change Canada’s (ECCC) Pond Inlet Research Facility, overlooking Mittimatalik Beach.
“The ECCC camera was installed so community members can answer a simple question: how is the weather in town?” said Benoit. “Weather patterns often differ across Eclipse Sound, so this tool may help travellers throughout the year.”
During his recent visit, Benoit—joined by wildlife monitor Jefferson Killiktee and a team of UQAR staff—also completed a six-and-a-half-hour hike to the summit of Igarjuaq in strong winds and cold weather to perform routine maintenance on that site’s camera.
“Before reaching the top, clouds moved through with humid frost that stuck to everything,” Benoit said. “Our toes were frozen. It was the coldest I have been in a long time.”
At the top, the team repaired the existing camera, replacing the solar panel and installing a new tripod before mounting the camera to ensure its view matched that of previous years.
There are plans to deploy more cameras soon. However, since the current models run on LTE, which has minimal network support in the region, their coverage area is limited and will require a system upgrade. In addition to the cameras, the team hopes to install weather stations in the future.
The Tuvaq project is set to run until 2030, with cameras continuing to record throughout the spring and summer months.
To learn more about the project, visit the Tuvaq website and Facebook page.