Ottawa Opens Canada's First Whale Sanctuary in the North

CANADIAN PRESS

OTTAWA — After more than a quarter century of talks and delays, Canada's first sanctuary for bowhead whales has been created in the eastern Arctic waters frequented by the bus-sized mammals.
Environment Minister John Baird announced Friday the establishment of a whale habitat around the northeast coast of Baffin Island, along with the creation of two wildlife and bird sanctuaries.

More than 336,000 hectares of Isabella Bay will now be protected as the Niginganiq National Wildlife Area.
"Canada's Conservative government has made protecting the Arctic a real priority. We're not just talking about it; we're taking real and specific action," Baird said.

Named for their enormous bow-shaped skulls, bowhead whales were hunted voraciously in the 17th and 18th centuries for their blubber, which was then the main source of lamp oil. By the early 20th century, the whales were near extinction.