EventThe number of orcas seen off Arctic Bay has risen to about 200 this year, a surge linked to shrinking sea ice that lets the predators reach beluga, narwhal and bowhead prey. The influx threatens residents’ subsistence hunting and highlights broader climate‑driven shifts in the high north.
Roughly 200 killer whales are now entering waters near Arctic Bay, a rise linked to shrinking sea ice that lets the predators reach previously inaccessible prey and extend their stay, raising concerns for the community’s subsistence hunting.
About 200 killer whales have been seen migrating into Arctic Bay waters this year, a rise linked to melting sea ice that allows the predators to reach beluga, narwhal and bowhead prey. Researchers are tracking their long‑range movements—from the Mediterranean to Hudson Bay—to understand how climate change is reshaping Arctic marine ecosystems.
