Glossary of Terms

Means of collecting aerial images from flying aircraft.

Fish that hatch in freshwater and migrate to the ocean to live out the rest of their lives before coming back to spawn.

Captive wildlife in an aquatic environment for harvesting purposes; i.e., salmon farms.

Any area where remains of past human activities may be found. This can include communities, quarries, cemeteries, etc.

An area where zoning is used to consider principles of conservation and good land management practices. This is used if an area is important for human, wildlife, or environmental purposes.

Seawater taken into the bilge and then pumped back out to remove accumulated water and contaminants.

The dry area of the beach that is above sea level at high tide, created by waves depositing material such as rocks or sand.

The rounded portion of a ship's hull that collects water. This can contain oil, urine, chemicals, and other contaminants.

When marine animals store toxins, such as methyl mercury, in their tissues.

Term to describe when animals eat other animals with toxins stored in their tissue and the amount magnifies as it moves up the food chain. Animals that are high in the food chain, such as whales or char, would have the highest concentrations of these toxins.

May refer to algal bloom or jelly fish bloom, when large numbers of organisms take over a marine environment. This is a sign that the average ocean temperature is higher than normal and there may be complications that result from this such as fish eggs not hatching or suffocation of sea life.

Also known as an “anchorage area”. It is an area that is ideal for anchoring a boat in regard to water depth, distance between boats and their size, and how vulnerable it is (high winds, sandbanks, rocks, etc.).

A thermal energy storage system that stores heat in the ground for later use.

Land that was used for placing human remains into the ground.

When icebergs break off from glaciers.

Involves the uptake of carbon by algae and plants, then returned to the ocean through respiration or the breakdown of organic material.

A reservoir, such as the ocean, that absorbs and stores more carbon than it releases.

A term that refers to the change in long-term average of weather.

The wearing away of coastal land due to wind and seawater movement.

All resources that form between terrestrial and marine ecosystems and their services and have environmental and socio-economic value.

Areas with conformity to requirements such as seasonal prohibitions on certain land uses or setback requirements around important features.

Where hazardous substances, brought on by humans, have reached a level in which they risk the health of the people or the environment around it.

Important areas of cultural value; i.e., archaeological, historical, burial, or religious sites.

These grant rights and privileges over the owner's land for the purpose of protecting, restoring, or enhancing areas that may be important to the environment.

Special areas in the ocean that strongly support the healthy functioning of the environment.

A condition in which the ecosystem, including the living and non-living components, remain intact and persistent.

The process in which communities grow in regard to value of goods and services, as well as the overall quality of life of the people that live in it.

Organisms that live on the ocean floor surface, such as starfish, crabs, sponges, and mussels.

Estuaries, and their surrounding wetlands, are bodies of water usually found where rivers meet the sea. Estuaries are home to unique plant and animal communities that have adapted to brackish water—a mixture of fresh water draining from the land and salty seawater.

Ice that forms between pack ice and the shoreline during the winter season and melts during the summer season.

Bundles of thin, flexible, glass fibres that transmit information to bring high-speed internet to communities.

The many interconnecting points of multiple food chains to describe the transfer of food from producers, like phytoplankton, to consumers, like whales or humans.

Areas where freshwater mixes with seawater, such as estuaries and coastal wetlands.

An area defined by physical characteristics.

Large bodies of ice formed on land.

Objectives to achieve. They can be open-minded and reflect benefits for the environment, economy, or social issues.

A term to explain the Earth's ability to trap heat from the sun in gases, such as water, carbon dioxide, and methane.

A device that uses radio waves to image the subsurface. This allows us to detect elements or empty space underground.

A current that moves warm water from equatorial regions to Northern Canada.

Reduction of wildlife, i.e., fish, marine mammals, caribou, waterfowl, shellfish, during particular seasons, by killing or taking from the environment.

Steep-faced irregularities of the coast that extend out to the ocean. These areas tend to be affected by erosion.

The highest point the water level reaches during high tide. This also marks the border of which Marine Use Planning covers.

Power generated from the kinetic energy of flowing water, by using a dam or other structures to alter the natural flow of a river.

Pancake ice combined.

Sea ice originating from glaciers.

The area between the high and low water mark, which is covered by both Marine and Land Use Planning

Non-native species that do so well in their new habitat, they end up causing harm.

Applies to land water and resources, including wildlife (see NILCA).

Whereas objectives define "what" outcome is intended for particular resource values, planning policies describe "how" the desired outcome will be achieved. There should be a direct relationship between objectives and planning policies. Depending on the circumstances, these might describe:

Remote sensing method that uses light from laser pulses to measure different distances to the Earth to give a three-dimensional image.

Areas with year-round prohibition of on or more types of land use. They may also include conformity requirements, such as seasonal prohibitions on certain land uses or setback requirements around important features.

The lowest point the water level reaches at low tide. This also marks the border of which Land Use Planning covers.

Networks of shipping corridors created by the Government of Canada to encourage traffic to use routes that will be of low impact to the environment and the surrounding communities.

The Nunavik Marine Region, which, for greater certainty, includes the areas of equal use and occupancy and the overlap area of the Agreement Relating to the Cree/Inuit Offshore Overlapping Interests Area, is that offshore area adjacent to, but not in, Québec described in Schedule 3-2 and shown on the map contained in Schedule 3-3 (NILCA).

Mammals that rely on the marine environment such as whales, dolphins, seals, and polar bears.

When tissue is removed from the animal and examined for DNA, toxins, and overall health indicators.

Areas protected under the Oceans Act to protect marine species and resources, the environment, and ecosystems (Oceans Act - S.C.1996, c.31 (section 35)).

Mercury's organic compound that is toxic to most living things.

Tiny plastic particles that come from large plastic pieces that were broken down.

Areas with potential to support a variety of land uses and are characterized by no prohibited uses or conformity requirements. In Mixed Use areas, all uses are considered to conform to the Plan.

Device used to map the features of the ocean floor using sound.

Organism that is normally found in a region.

Organism not normally found in a region. They are introduced by human activities, which can be intentional (e.g., species introduced to control a pest species), accidental (e.g., shipping and ballast water exchange), or environmental (e.g., changes in climate leading to wildlife movements).

As shown in Schedule 3-1 of the NILCA is comprised of the following components. A) the Nunavik Marine Region and B) the Labrador Inuit Settlement Area portion of the Nunavik Inuit/Labrador Inuit overlap area.

Includes the areas of equal use and occupancy and the overlap area of the Agreement Relating to the Cree/Inuit.

Organization responsible for development, implementation, and monitoring of land use pans that guide and direct resource use and development in the Nunavut Settlement Area.

Objectives describe a desired future state for a particular resource or resource use. They are more specific and concrete than goals. They act as steppingstones for achieving broader goals.

Chemical reactions that occur when carbon dioxide is absorbed by seater. This reduces the pH levels and can cause many parts of the ocean to become undersaturated with important building blocks for organisms like those with shells.

The circulation of currents across the planet as the seawater warms and cools, rising and falling as it travels from continent to continent.

Activities carried out by the federal government to manage Canada's marine estate.

Offshore area adjacent to, but not in, Quebec described in Schedule 3-2 (NILCA) and shown on the map contained in Schedule 3-3.

Area focused on exploring, gathering data, developing land, drilling, production, harvesting, refining, distributing, or transporting oil or gas.

Warm environment that is rich in oxygen.

Floating ice that comes together to form a single mass of ice.

Early stages of sea ice formation, when the slush begins to coalesce into disk-shaped pieces of ice.

Peat is the surface organic layer of a soil that consists of partially decomposed organic matter, derived mostly from plant material.

Peatlands are wetlands in which conditions prevent plant material from fully decomposing. More organic matter is being created than is decomposing, which creates an accumulation of peat.

Complete review of an approved plan including its regional and sub-regional components. Such a review is completed periodically to ensure the plan is current.

Permanently frozen soil, sand, or gravel.

Changes to plans after approval. These will require review by NMRPC to accept, reject, or amend, then send to Federal and Territorial Ministers for review and approval.

A person or group interested in participating in the land-use planning process, impact review process, or both. For added clarity this includes:

Thick ice that forms near the North Pole.

Opening of seawater surrounded by ice. More common when the ice melts during the summer season.

Any of the following areas, other than a Marine Protected Area, when established in the NMR under legislation (NILCA Article 11);

An artificial hole that was dug in the ground. This is usually done to dig out materials such as rocks or minerals.

A place that is important because of its traditional, cultural, or spiritual use.

When Saltwater starts permeating through the ground and getting to freshwater systems.

Organic, selenium-containing compound that is found in high concentrations in beluga skin and blubber.

Narrow established routes to allow ships to access destinations; i.e., going through the Northwest Passage.

Vessel traffic management, where everyone must stay in their lane and there is incoming traffic and outgoing traffic.

A combination of terms and zoning contained in a land-use plan that guide and direct resource management in a specific geographic area to achieve certain goals and objectives.

Mammals whose main habitat is on land.

Also known as Thermokarst lakes and ponds. They are pools of water formed from thawing permafrost.

People or things in the process of being transported.

Structures that support transportation such as roads, pipelines, railways, train stations, or truck stops.

Any area that a group has rights to trap animals in which they harvest for fur.

A parasite that causes trichinellosis. This happens when raw or undercooked meat is consumed and the meat is infected with the parasite. Symptoms involve gastrointestinal issues as well as muscle pain and fever.

Treeless plains in Arctic regions, where the ground is frozen and dry.

When deep, cold, water that is full of nutrients is brought to the surface because of air and ocean currents moving water away from the shore.

Important elements of the physical, biological, or socio-economic environment. This includes the air, water, soil, vegetation, wildlife, land, etc.

Important elements of socio-economic environment.

A term used to describe plant cover in an area.

The area of land that drains all water to a common outlet. It can be all of the surface water and underlying groundwater of a particular outflow point.

All terrestrial, aquatic, avian, and amphibian animals.