Project Title: Marine Acoustic Monitoring in Akpait and Qaqulluit NWAsApplicant Name and Contact Information: Danica Hogan, Canadian Wildlife Service5019 52 St, PO Box 2310Yellowknife, NT, X1A2P7Danica.Hogan@ec.gc.ca867-669-4754Project Objectives: The monitoring priorities for Akpait and Qaqulluit NWAs identified by the Sululiit Area Co-Management Committee (ACMC) include marine mammals and the effects of marine traffic on wildlife. Each year, tourism vessels apply to the ACMC/CWS for permits to enter the area to view wildlife that use the area. CWS does not have baseline underwater noise data or recent information about marine mammal use of the area. Akpait and Qaqulluit NWAs are also pilot sites for the Ecological and Conservation Monitoring Program (ECOMaP), a program aimed at monitoring the status and effectiveness of the Protected and Conserved Areas Network managed by Environment and Climate Change Canada.The goal of this project is to address the management priorities indicated by the ACMC by deploying one marine acoustic recorder each in Akpait and Qaqulluit NWAs to collect information about baseline noise levels, vocal marine animals, and vessel traffic noise in the area. We will use the results of this study to update the list of marine mammals that use the area, provide insight into marine mammal phenology in the area, and assess how noise pollution from vessel traffic may affect marine mammals in the NWAs. This information will be used to guide permitting decisions regarding vessels in the NWAs (e.g., when and what types of ships to allow in the NWAs), identify areas for improvement of compliance promotion activities (e.g., detection of non-permitted vessels and detection of vessels not equipped with an Automatic Identification System (AIS)), and create standard permit conditions (e.g., speed limits, time limits, anchoring vs. dynamic positioning) for vessels entering the NWA for tourism and other purposes. Project Location:Akpait National Wildlife Area and Qaqulluit National Wildlife AreaThe exact location of the acoustic recorder deployments is still to be determined. The locations will be chosen after the ACMC meets and discusses the project (likely in March 2025). We will use input and knowledge from the ACMC to determine best possible deployment locations. We will travel via boat from Qikiqtarjuaq to Akpait and Qaqulluit NWAs with a local boat operator.Proposed date and duration of visit to each protected area:Akpait NWA: 3 days total (1 day each year) in August or September 2025, 2026, and 2027Qaqulluit NWA: 3 days total (1 day each year) in August or September 2025, 2026, and 2027Note that deployment and retrieval should only take 1 day in each area each year, however, unforeseen circumstances (e.g. weather, ice conditions), may require multiple attempts/visits in a year. Summary of Activities and Rationale:We will deploy a marine acoustic recorder that records underwater noise in Akpait and Qaqulluit NWAS (one in each NWA) in August/September 2025. The deployment location for the recorder will be chosen based on available information on ocean depth and proximity to mammal and marine vessel hotspots in the NWA. We will discuss and seek input on possible deployment locations at the next Sululiit ACMC meeting (likely in March 2025). The recorder will be deployed at a depth of between 30m-110m for a period of 1 year, passively recording underwater noise for 5 minutes every 30 minutes. The recorder will be retrieved in August/September 2026 and a new marine acoustic recorder will be deployed for another year (until August/September 2027) in each NWA. 2 years of data will allow for a greater variety of vessels to be captured transiting in/by the NWAs and will provide a better understanding of baseline noise levels in the NWA.The deployment and retrieval of the recorders will take no more than one day per NWA. We will travel to the NWA via local vessel from Qikiqtarjuaq. The crew will consist of 4-6 people, including 2-3 CWS employees, 1-2 community members, and 1 boat operator. Community Consultation and Involvement:This project will be discussed with the Sululiit Area Co-Management Committee at the next meeting (likely March 2025). We will send plain language summaries and translated materials to the ACMC and Nattivak Hunters & Trappers Association. There will be an opportunity for a community member or ACMC committee member to join us during the field work. We will also be hiring a local boat and boat operator from Qikiqtarjuaq to transit us from Qikiqtarjuaq to the NWAs. We will share project reports and updates with the Sululiit ACMC on a regular basis, as well as with the Nattivak Hunters & Trappers Association. Once the project is completed, the data and final report will be circulated to the Sululiit ACMC.