Lancaster Sound Polynya (11301)
Canada, North America
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: B1, D1a
Year of last assessment: 2008
National site name: Lancaster Sound Polynya
Central coordinates: Latitude: 74.2012, Longitude: -79.9997
System: marine, terrestrial
Area of KBA (km2): 8727.49295
Protected area coverage (%): 100.00
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The Lancaster Sound Polynya is located between the northwestern end of Baffin Island and the south coast of Devon Island. The shape and extensiveness of the polynya (an area of open water surrounded by ice, varies from year to year) and associated leads is influenced by the severity of the winter, water currents and winds. Landfast ice starts to develop in late September, with the sound becoming completely ice-covered by mid to late October. Leads and cracks begin to form between mid November and mid December, and remain until break-up. One of the most regularly occurring leads is one that develops along the south coast of Devon Island. In the 1970s break-up occurred any time between early May and August. Many large marine mammals, such as Bearded Seals, Belugas, Walruses and Polar Bears, feed in the waters here.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that meets the thresholds for at least one criterion described in the Global Standard for the Identification of KBAs.
Additional biodiversity: The Lancaster Sound Polynya supports an amazing number of migrant Dovekies. During the latter half of May, this small alcid is migrating north to its breeding grounds in the Thule District of northwest Greenland, where many millions of Dovekies breed. On route, they stop at the Lancaster Sound Polynya to feed along the ice edges and loose drift ice of the open water found here. In the latter half of May, 1976, aerial surveys of the eastern end of Lancaster Sound led to estimates of 1.5 million Dovekies. During the same time of the year in 1978, aerial surveys of an adjacent area in the sound led to estimates of 6 million and 14 million Dovekies. This is a significant portion of the Thule breeding population and an outstanding number by any measure.
Delineation rationale: Type 2 marine IBA: non-breeding (coastal) congregations. Type 3 marine IBA: seabird migration bottleneck?
Habitats
Land use: not utilised
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Marine Neritic | 100 |
Threats
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pollution | Industrial & military effluents | Type Unknown/Unrecorded | Only in the future |
| Transportation & service corridors | Shipping lanes | Ongoing | |
| Energy production & mining | Oil & gas drilling | Only in the future | |
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Recreational activities | Ongoing | |
| Human intrusions & disturbance | War, civil unrest & military exercises | Ongoing |