Bowhead distribution

Bowhead whales (Balaena mysticetus) are called Arviq in Inuktitut and use their large reinforced skulls and powerful bodies to break through ice up to 20 cm thick. 6,000 bowhead whales migrate through Lancaster Sound every summer. The Eastern Canada-West Greenland population of these whales are listed as being a species of Special Concern. This map layer shows bowhead whale distribution based on traditional Inuit and local knowledge collected by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans.