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Changing Baffin Bay Fish Distribution and Their Effects on Inuit Communities...
The purpose of this study was to
examine data on fish population shifts and ocean warming in the Davis
Strait and Baffin Bay region, and consider how these shifts may affect Inuit communities.
We examined data from 1950 to 2010 on fish sightings as well as trends in warming and decreasing
salinity due to melting glaciers in that region. Specifically, we conducted generational analysis
of various fish species alongside heat maps of fish spottings which were used to determine population
migration trends for certain species. We found a recent shift in migration patterns for several
species of fish which may be correlated with the previously established ocean warming.
This shift was observed in the species Macrouidae, Myctophidae, Phycidae, Zoarcidae, and Salmonidae.
The migration of the Salmonidae is especially consequential due to the dependence of Inuit peoples on
salmonidae for sustenance during certain parts of the year. Assuming that this link is causal, and that
feedback mechanisms for glacial melting will only accelerate warming , we anticipate that this effect has
the potential to upset traditional ways of life for Inuit communities in the region.
At the High School Big Data Challenge, this paper won the $1000 dollar RBC Arnold Chan Memorial Prize.
Dagar, S., Alizadeh, R., Wang, J., & Szeto, W. (2020). 2020 national high school big data challenge: Newclimate and information realities - from oceans to glass of water. Stem Fellowship,5, 1. https://doi.org/10.17975/sfj-2020-001