The Sanctuary was established 1 January 1959,[1] and consisting of 149,500 hectares,.[2] Of its 1,224 km2 (473 sq mi) in overall size, 78 km2 (30 sq mi) is a marine area with marine, intertidal, and subtidal components.[1]
The sanctuary was named after Harry Gibbons Ohnainewk (c. 1900–1954), a local Inuit hunter and guide whose journals provided valuable weather data, especially on wind.[3][4]
It is one of two bird sanctuaries on the island, the other being the East Bay Migratory Bird Sanctuary, situated 87 mi (140 km) to the northeast.[5]
Other designations
Along with its wetlands, the Boas River is a Canadian Important Bird Area (site #NU022). The Harry Gibbons MBS takes up the western portion of the IBA.[6]