Maria Canton
Northern News Services

Qikiqtarjuaq (Mar 06/00) - Four Qikiqtarjuaq clam divers have been ordered to stop diving.

A Workers' Compensation Board safety officer visited to the community two weeks ago after being alerted to the fact that the divers were selling the clams they obtained from diving six days a week.

"The divers were certified as recreational divers only, by selling the clams they were commercial diving, which they are not certified to do," said safety officer Bill Wong.

"I issued a stop-work order because we are mainly concerned with the safety issues, nothing else."

Wong says a recreational diver is not properly trained for commercial diving and there are several differences between the two certificates.

A recreational certification is for pleasure only and can be obtained in a matter of days. Training for a commercial ticket, however, takes between eight weeks to a year of intensive training that is not offered in Nunavut.

The WCB took action after a photospread ran in News\North which showed the divers in different stages during a day of diving.

"We saw the pictures and saw people in danger, it's just like going onto a construction site where the regulations aren't being followed."

The divers, however, say they were under the impression that they could sell the clams they picked from the waters below the ice with the certification they have.

"First a fax came from the WCB in Yellowknife saying an inspector was coming to the community," said Stevie Audlakiak, one of the divers who is temporarily out of a job.

"The inspector came and told us to stop diving for commercial uses, I thought with our training we could dive and pick clams."

Audlakiak says all of the divers are very disappointed, but are anxious to pursue the commercial training that will get them back in the water.

The divers were selling the clams to Papiruq Fisheries, the business arm of the local Hunters and Trappers Organization (HTO), and the secretary-manager says he, too, is anxious for the divers to get the adequate training because the demand for work is great.

"Our mission is to create economic development in the community," said Harry Alookie.

"And there is such a demand for clams that I can't wait until the divers can dive again."

Alookie did note, however, that the divers were not Papiruq Fisheries divers and at least this unfortunate incident will give the men to the opportunity to get the further training they need.

"I don't think the divers were expecting their diving to expand so much -- they weren't aware of the potential in diving," said Alookie.

With the support of the hamlet and HTO, the divers are looking at ways in which to find funding for the costly commercial diving courses that will have them leaving the territory.

They are planning on lobbying the government for support and have started with a letter to their MLA.