This project tracks the spatial and temporal movements of key fish and marine mammal species using a combination of satellite tags, acoustic (V6) and chat tags, and an array of VR2W receivers deployed in the Sound.

	Name	Email	Phone Number
Primary Contact	Fred Whoriskey	oceantrackingnetwork@dal.ca	(902) 494-4101

Download Ocean Tracking Network (Cumberland Sound) profile as a PDF document

Owner
Ocean Tracking Network (Dalhousie University)

Membership
Regular Member

Website
www.oceantrackingnetwork.org

Latitude
Range: 55 to 76. CSV files can be retrieved from members.oceantrack.org/data/discovery/ACS.htm

Longitude
Range: -101 to -63. CSV files can be retrieved from members.oceantrack.org/data/discovery/ACS.htm

Location
Cumberland Sound, located on southern Baffin Island

Nearest Community
Pangnirtung

Territory/ Province
Nunavut

Aboriginal Government/ Homeland
Hamlet Council www.pangnirtung.ca/council

Facility Type
Site for Observing/Monitoring

Research Hinterland
Coastal, Freshwater, Large River, Marine, Streams

Main Research Disciplines
Isotopic Chemistry, Marine Biology, Oceanography, Sociology, Traditional/Aboriginal Knowledge

Research History
OTN deployments in Canadian waters began in 2008 off Halifax. The first Arctic deployments were Frobisher Bay (2008; Arctic char) followed by Cumberland Sound (2010; Arctic skate, Greenland halibut, Greenland shark, ringed seal) and Lancaster Sound (Arctic cod, fourhorn sculpin, Greenland shark, sculpin, shorthorn sculpin), Scott Inlet (2012; Greenland halibut, Greenland shark) and Cambridge Bay (2013; Arctic char, lake trout) members.oceantrack.org/data/discovery/ARCTIC.htm

Current Projects
Deep‐water Arctic marine fishes: developing commercial fisheries and Interactions with marine mammals

Power
OTN equipment is self-powered (on-board batteries)

Communications
Internet, Computer, Videoconferencing, Satellite

Local Transportation
Periodic missions using chartered assets to maintain OTN infrastructure in different parts of the Arctic.

Equipment Storage
N/A

Dormitory/Sleeping Facilities
N/A

Dining/Kitchen Facilities
N/A

Laboratory Facilities
N/A

Fuel Availability
N/A

Research Requirements
Appropriate permits and animal care certifications must be obtained at the home institution of investigators using the OTN infrastructure.

Special Rules and Regulations
Data gathered by the OTN infrastructure will be made available to the broader scientific community after investigators have published their work, as per the terms of the OTN data policy. members.oceantrack.org/data/data-collection/otn-data-policy

Local External Resources
Government of Nunavut, DFO, Pangnirtung HTA

Nearest Medical Service
N/A

Safety Considerations
Marine Emergency Duties, First Aid

Cost
Use of the data recorded on the infrastructure is free of cost, following registration with the OTN (contact Susan Dufault: susan.dufault@dal.ca). Investigators typically pay the costs of tagging their target animals.

Other Information
OTN provides electronic telemetry (acoustic and satellite) infrastructure, and associated monitoring of oceanographic conditions, to track the movements and survival of marine animals and enable both to be linked to environmental conditions. Results from telemetry studies are used to guide fishery policy and management decisions (e.g., determination of fishery boundary lines), to identify critical habitat for marine species at risk, to assist in the planning of marine protected areas, and to provide fundamental information on the structure and function of Arctic aquatic systems.

Last Updated
2015-05-30