Arctic Cod Monitoring Project  Empowers Northern Communities and Fosters a New Generation of Scientists Through Collaboration and Knowledge Sharing 

An initiative led by the Marine Institute of Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador has brought together Northern communities and researchers to monitor ecological changes in the Arctic through an innovative, community-based project. Supported through UArctic Project Funding, the project, Boreogadus saida and newcomers (Bosanova), has helped build lasting partnerships across Nunavut and Greenland while advancing marine knowledge and capacity in the High Arctic. 

Centering a Keystone Species in Arctic Life 

At the heart of the project lies the Arctic cod (Boreogadus saida), a forage fish that plays a vital role in Arctic ecosystems and in Inuit culture. As a primary food source for seals, whales, and seabirds, Arctic cod forms the ecological backbone of many marine food webs on which Inuit culture relies.  

Yet climate change is placing this ecological and cultural foundation under pressure. With warming ocean temperatures, boreal fish species such as capelin and sand lance are migrating northward. These incoming species are often less nutritious and less predictable as prey for top predators embedded in Inuit knowledge systems, creating uncertainty for harvesters and for the communities that depend on marine biodiversity. The Bosanova project was created in direct response to these shifts. 

Community Science and Co-Produced Knowledge 

Rather than relying solely on Southern institutions or external scientists to assess these environmental changes, Bosanova trained local observers in using SIKU, the Indigenous Knowledge Social Network app developed by the Arctic Eider Society. Community members in Nunavut were trained to record their observations of the environment, Arctic cod, and other species in real time. 

This approach represents a clear alignment with UArctic’s values of collaboration, circumpolar knowledge-sharing, and respect for Indigenous self-determination. It exemplifies the principles of UArctic’s Thematic Network on Collaborative Resource Management, which encourages participatory research that recognizes Indigenous knowledge as equal to scientific data. 

Through Bosanova, knowledge is not extracted from communities; it is generated within them. Residents become data contributors, environmental monitors, and educators in their own right. In Grise Fiord, the project’s on-the-ground presence was particularly marked. A community town hall, SIKU training for 12 residents, and a research icebreaker tour involving 37 locals demonstrated what respectful engagement looks like when driven by mutual learning and shared curiosity. 

Empowerment and Lasting Impacts 

The project didn’t just involve communities—it invested in them. As part of a collaborating project with Natural Resources Canada, two Grise Fiord residents joined scientists aboard the CCGS Amundsen to assist with sediment coring, marking a rare opportunity for residents to engage directly in marine science. According to lead researcher Dr. Maxime Geoffroy, this kind of participation “helps empower the participants and contributes to self-determination in research in the Arctic, and hopefully in future decision-making in conservation and natural resource management.” 

For residents of Grise Fiord, collaborating with the researchers of Bosanova helped build local capacity to continue monitoring efforts in future years, especially as new funding from ArcticNet and Crown–Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada (CIRNAC) becomes available. 

Bosanova also produced benefits across academic and institutional networks. Graduate students were trained during offshore sampling, and international scientists gained access to localized data from remote coastal communities often absent from large-scale monitoring programs. Findings related to the project are already contributing to peer-reviewed studies and international conferences. 

Protecting the Pikialasorsuaq—Together 

Geographically, the project focused on the Pikialasorsuaq (North Water Polynya), a biologically rich and culturally significant region shared by Nunavut and Greenland. This area is a focal point for Indigenous-led conservation efforts, and Bosanova directly supports those goals. By generating real-time, community-driven data from this sensitive ecosystem, the project provides tools for communities to participate in and shape the future of conservation in a rapidly changing Arctic. 

This is where the project most clearly resonates with UArctic’s foundational purpose: to strengthen the voices and agency of Northern peoples and institutions in global Arctic conversations. Bosanova is not just about fish, as it also aims to advance equity, resilience, and knowledge sovereignty. It blends Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit (traditional knowledge) with scientific inquiry and digital tools to create a model of Arctic research that is collaborative, relevant, and enduring. 

Photo Credit: Hauke Flores at the Alfred Wegener Institute