The Canadian army sent a squad to investigate a mysterious “beeping” sound reportedly emanating from the depths of the Arctic sea.

A remote hunting community in Nunavut, on the edges of the Arctic Circle, were baffled by a sound also described as a “hum” and a “pinging” throughout the summer.

The eerie whining has allegedly scared away animals from a popular fishing spot that is ordinarily a hive of mammal activity.

“That’s one of the major hunting areas in the summer and winter because it’s a polynya,” said Paul Quassa, a member of the Nunavut legislative assembly.

“And this time around, this summer, there were hardly any. And this became a suspicious thing.”

Various people called a radio station to report the noise, heard in the Fury and Hecla Strait, once returning to the nearest hamlet of Igloolik roughly 75 miles southeast.

Theories include suggestions an iron mining company could be conducting sonar surveys.

The Baffinland Iron Mines Corporation however told CBC News it had no equipment in the water.

Another theory speculated that Greenpeace was potentially generating the sound to terrify the wildlife away.

Mr Quassa said: “We’ve heard in the past of groups like Greenpeace putting in some kinds of sonars in the seabed to get the sea mammals out of the way so Inuit won’t be able to hunt them.

“[But] nobody has ever seen any type of ship or anything going through that area and putting something down.”

Dead whales beached on the North Sea coast Show all 8 1 /8 Dead whales beached on the North Sea coast Dead whales beached on the North Sea coast Two dead sperm whales are seen washed up on a beach near Skegness in northeast England. Four sperm whales believed to be from the same pod washed up on beaches in northeast England. Three whales were found on a beach near Skegness and one died on Hunstanton beach AFP Getty Dead whales beached on the North Sea coast 50ft sperm whale beached in Norfolk The dead 50ft (14.5m) young adult male sperm whale beached in Norfolk, which was was part of a group of six spotted in the Wash at Hunstanton, is believed to have been part of a pod that stranded and died in the Netherlands PA Dead whales beached on the North Sea coast 50ft sperm whale beached in Norfolk The dead 50ft (14.5m) young adult male sperm whale beached in Norfolk, which was was part of a group of six spotted in the Wash at Hunstanton, is believed to have been part of a pod that stranded and died in the Netherlands PA Dead whales beached on the North Sea coast 50ft sperm whale beached in Norfolk The dead 50ft (14.5m) young adult male sperm whale beached in Norfolk, which was was part of a group of six spotted in the Wash at Hunstanton, is believed to have been part of a pod that stranded and died in the Netherlands PA Dead whales beached on the North Sea coast 50ft sperm whale beached in Norfolk The dead 50ft (14.5m) young adult male sperm whale beached in Norfolk, which was was part of a group of six spotted in the Wash at Hunstanton, is believed to have been part of a pod that stranded and died in the Netherlands PA Dead whales beached on the North Sea coast 50ft sperm whale beached in Norfolk Two of three dead sperm whales that have washed up on a beach in Lincolnshire, just a day after another was beached in Norfolk PA Dead whales beached on the North Sea coast One of three dead sperm whales that have washed up on a beach in Lincolnshire, just a day after another was beached in Norfolk PA Dead whales beached on the North Sea coast Photo taken from the Twitter feed of the @RNLIskegness of one of three dead sperm whales that have washed up on a beach in Lincolnshire, just a day after another was beached in Norfolk PA

Greenpeace spokesman Farrah Khan vehemently denied the organisation having any involvement.

The strait however is a popular migration route for bowhead whales, bearded seals and ringed seals.

Amazing aerial views capture bowhead whales in their natural habitat

In a statement, Department of National Defence spokesman Ashley Lemire said: “The Canadian armed forces are aware of allegations of unusual sounds emanating from the seabed in the Fury and Hecla Strait in Nunavut.

“The air crew performed various multi-sensor searches in the area, including an acoustic search for 1.5 hours, without detecting any acoustic anomalies.

“The crew did not detect any surface or subsurface contacts.

“The crew did observe two pods of whales and six walruses in the area of interest.