Across their global range, Narwhals exhibit seasonal differences in habitat selection and migrate between summer and winter areas with the formation of sea ice (Heide‐Jørgensen et al. 2013). In European waters, Narwhals off East Greenland occupy ice-free fjords during summer months and move offshore (into areas of heavy pack ice) during winter as fast ice forms in the fjords (Dietz et al. 1994, Heide-Jørgensen et al. 2010). The species show strong site fidelity to summer areas (Heide‐Jørgensen et al. 2013). Narwhals have a narrow thermal niche preferring cold temperatures and avoid water masses with above 2°C (Heide‐Jørgensen et al. 2020).

Narwhals forage on fish, cephalopods and crustaceans with key prey species including Greenland Halibut (Reinhardtius hippoglossoides), squid, and Polar (Arctogadus glacialis) and Arctic Cod (Boreogadus saida) (Heide-Jørgensen, 2018, Dietz et al. 2021). They are capable of foraging both at depth (with dives >800 m recorded) and closer to the surface (<100 m) (Tervo et al. 2021b). Isotope analysis of Narwhal tusks suggests an increase in pelagic prey such as Caplin in the last decade, likely due to a response to climatic changes (Dietz et al. 2021).

Narwhals are endemic to the Artic waters of the Atlantic, occurring in high densities in the eastern Canadian Artic and West Greenland. They are present in European waters but at lower densities, found off the East Greenland coast and in high latitude areas north of Svalbard and Franz Joseph Land. Extralimital records within European waters include Germany, UK, and the Netherlands. Outside of Europe they are vagrant in Newfoundland and the Chukchi and Bering seas (Rice 1998).

Narwhal is listed in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). As such, all exports of Narwhal products must be accompanied by a CITES export permit and covered by a Non-Detriment Finding (NDF) from the country of origin. In order to export Narwhal products, Canada and Greenland need to provide evidence of sustainable takes, document catch and trade and identify abundance and trend of all stocks. Exports from Canada have been allowed for all products originating from all stocks from 2012, as evidence was provided that all takes were sustainable. Greenland was initially issued a negative NDF in 2005, preventing export in 2006. Since this period, evidence has been provided for the sustainability of takes within Greenland and in 2009 CITES accepted that quotas were sustainable, and that trade was unlikely to negatively impact the species. However, the Greenland Government has yet to permit exports of Narwhal.