Fish and marine mammals

The landmark protects marine estuary channels as well as Arctic Ocean environment that provide habitat for a number of fish species. Members of the salmon family can be found in the bays within the landmark, including least cisco (Coregonus sardinella), Arctic cisco (Coregonus autumnalis), broad whitefish (Coregonus nasus) and inconnu (Stenodus leucichthys). Pacific herring (Clupea pallasii), jackfish (Esox lucius) and loche (Lota lota) also live in these waters.

These fish share their habitat with large marine mammals including seals (Phocidae family) and beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas). Ringed seals are the most common of the 5 seal species that spend time in the Arctic. Ringed seals remain in the Arctic year-round, where they breed on sea ice and feed on crustaceans and small fish. Belugas, which are pure white as adults, are social animals that prefer to spend their summers in river estuaries. They feed on fishes and invertebrates and their only predators are orcas, humans and occasionally, polar bears.