Land & Water Programs
5.5Mt
The 2020 Shipping Season saw 72 ships pass through Milne Inlet transporting a total 5.5Mt of iron ore to global markets
Baffinland undertakes a combination of programs and scientific studies annually to monitor and assess changes in terrestrial, freshwater and marine environments. Every year, a Terrestrial Monitoring Program is implemented to study various areas, such as vegetation, dust fall, birds and mammals. For instance, in winter months, snow track surveys are implemented after fresh snowfall to detect animal tracks in proximity of the Tote Road.
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Land & Water Programs
The Freshwater Monitoring Program runs throughout the year. Water, sediment, organisms, and fish samples are collected from lakes and streams near the Mary River Mine site to determine if the quality or condition of them has changed from their prior state before mining-related activities began in 2015. Our marine monitoring programs and studies are supported by numerous Inuit researchers and marine wildlife observers from various communities including Arctic Bay, Pond Inlet and Igloolik. The results of the 2020 programs will be made available to the public by mid-2021. Results from previous years can be found online on the Baffinland Download Library at www.baffinland.com/document-portal/. Pond Inlet-based Shipping Monitors Following the success of the 2019 program, in 2020 Baffinland trained and hired nine full-time and part-time shipping monitors based in Pond Inlet to provide a direct liaison between the community of Pond Inlet, the Mittimatalik Hunters and Trappers Organization and Baffinland during the 2020 shipping season. Shipping monitors tracked and communicated on a daily basis the incoming and outgoing Baffinland-related vessel activities transiting to and from Milne Port using various methods including marine VHF radio, local radio and through social media. They were also available to answer questions and keep track of any concerns received by the community and provide responses in a timely manner. Shipping monitors worked in shifts to maximize daily coverage of up to 24 hours a day. New to 2020 in response to community feedback was the creation of a dedicated “Baffinland Shipping” Facebook page to further enhance regular communications over the shipping season, attracting over 660 followers. Key information was posted including maps showing the Northern Shipping Route extending from Baffin Bay to Milne Port, contact information of shipping monitors including direct cell phone line and email, and a link to live vessel tracking available on the Baffinland website. For more information on our Shipping programs, visit www.baffinland.com/operation/shipping-and-monitoring/. Printed copies of our environmental reports are available from the Mittimatalik Hunters and Trappers Organization office.
