The Inuit of Labrador and the federal government have signed a deal that will see the Inuit participate in the development of a marine-management plan covering more than 380,000 square kilometres of coastal waters on the far eastern end of Canada’s Northwest Passage. The plan, which is expected to govern shipping, resource extraction, water quality, species management, conservation of historical sites and other matters of key importance to the Inuit such as tourism, hunting and fishing, comes as climate change and the decline of Arctic sea ice are opening the passage to an increasing amount of ship traffic. The end result is expected to be the first Indigenous protected area in Canada.

Listen to this week’s Live in Studio 5 segment where I discuss the proposed marine-management plan.

Listen to episode 159 of Blue fish Radio featuring my conversation with the Nunatsiavut Government’s Minister of Lands and Natural Development, Darryl Shiwak.