Sea ice declines in Canada’s Arctic have been accompanied by an increase in shipping traffic. Shipping can have negative direct (i.e., mortality from strikes) and indirect (e.g., noise disturbance) impacts on Arctic marine mammal populations, leading to displacement from critical habitat or disruption of critical behaviors (e.g., reproduction), with ultimate impacts on population demographics. Walrus and beluga are known to be sensitive to shipping-related disturbance, but there has been very little research carried out in Canada. Results from these two projects will be used to assess spatial and temporal overlaps between critical habitat and shipping corridors, detect behavioral (foraging, resting, vocalizing) and distribution responses to shipping activity, and develop mitigation measures (e.g., buffer zones around important terrestrial and marine habitat). This proposal covers two projects and species (across multiple areas) and has been developed in response to community-identified concerns and research priorities concerning shipping impacts on walrus/beluga behaviour, distribution, and demographics. 1. The walrus field project will take place from the communities of Coral Harbour, Naujaat, Igoolik, Sanirajak and Kinngait, as shipping expansions through these areas of critical high-density walrus habitat stand to have disproportionate impacts on walrus. 2. The beluga work will take place from Igloolik and Kinngait, and data generated from this project will form baseline information on stock definitions, address uncertainties in habitat use, and assess monitor potential impacts of increased shipping over the next few years. Both projects will use a collection of methods to address different questions and uncertainties: 1) satellite tags to collect distribution, movement and diving data (both walrus and beluga) 2) time-lapse stationary cameras and aerial drone imagery (only walrus to monitor haul-out patterns) 3) hydrophone recordings (e.g., vocalizations of walrus and beluga and shipping noise) 4) tissue biopsies (e.g., both walrus and beluga, for analysis of stress hormone concentrations) 5) drone footage to monitor haul-outs (walrus) and gather behavioural health metrics on beluga whales. DFO will be on site in Coral Harbour, Igloolik, and Kinngait, while work in Naujaat and Sanirajak will be community-led. The work will be conducted by boat during day trips (i.e. no field camps) from each community. Operations will take place for ~7-15 days between August 1 to October 30th (exact timing and focus areas will be based on availability of local research team, ice conditions and seasonal species occurrence). The polygons submitted for this project cover large areas to ensure we have the flexibility to follow community recommendations, however they represent a maximum distance that could be traveled. We will not be conducting our work in protected areas or national parks, for example, the Coral Harbour field work will only occur at Walrus Island and will not encroach on the Coats Island Bird Sanctuary. Both projects have and will continue to work closely with the local Hunters and Trappers Associations/Organizations to hire local boats, captains and field research assistants to conduct the work. For the 2025 field season the walrus field program (biopsy, tagging, cameras, and drone) has been supported by all communities, except Naujaat did not support the use of drones. The beluga program has received full support from the Igloolik HTA and Kinngait HTA. For the hydrophones, Sanirajak has supported deploying a new one near the community, the beluga approval letter from Kinngait covers the hydrophone being use for both projects, and the support letter to re-deploy 3-4 hydrophones is pending for Igloolik (however verbal support has been provided).