Data Zone
The site was identified as internationally important for bird conservation in 2008 because it was regularly supporting significant populations of the species listed below, meeting IBA criteria.
Populations meeting IBA criteria ('key species') at the site:| Species | Red List | Season (year/s of estimate) | Size | IBA criteria |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Little Auk Alle alle | LC | passage (1978) | 14,000,000 individuals | A4ii |
| A4iii Species group - seabirds | n/a | passage (1978) | 5,000,000-9,999,999 individuals | A4iii |
Ideally the conservation status of the IBA will have been checked regularly since the site was first identified in 2008. The most recent assessment (2013) is shown below.
| IBA conservation status | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of assessment | State | Pressure | Response |
| 2013 | not assessed | high | low |
| Whole site assessed? | State assessed by | Accuracy of information | |
| yes | unset | unknown | |
| Pressure (threats to the key species and/or their habitats) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Threat | Timing | Scope | Severity | Result |
| Transportation and service corridors | happening now | some of population/area (10–49%) | moderate deterioration (10–30% in 3 generations) | high |
| Human intrusions and disturbance | happening now | some of population/area (10–49%) | slow deterioration (1–10% over 3 generations) | medium |
| Energy production and mining | likely in long term (beyond 4 years) | some of population/area (10–49%) | moderate deterioration (10–30% in 3 generations) | medium |
| Pollution | likely in long term (beyond 4 years) | few individuals/small area (<10%) | rapid deterioration (>30% over 3 generations) | low |
| Response (conservation actions taken for the key species and/or their habitats) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Designation | Planning | Action | Result |
| Little/none of site covered (<10%) | No management plan exists, but the management planning process has begun | Some limited conservation initiatives are in place | low |
| Year | Protected Area | Designation (management category) | % coverage of IBA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Tallurutiup Imanga (Lancaster Sound) National Marine Conservation Area | National Marine Conservation Area (VI) | 100 |
| Habitat | % of IBA | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Marine Neritic | 100 |
| Land use | % of IBA |
|---|---|
| not utilised | major (>10) |
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2025) Important Bird Area factsheet: Lancaster Sound Polynya (Canada). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/lancaster-sound-polynya-iba-canada on 09/01/2025.