Is three years enough time to let communities manage their own narwhal hunts? That could be decided at a meeting this week
Northern News Services
Iqaluit (Mar 19/01) - As three communities prepare for their annual narwhal harvest, steps are being taken to ensure the last year of a trial management system goes well.
This will be the third year of a community-based management system implemented by the Nunavut Wildlife Management Board in 1999.
Since then, hunters and trappers associations in Qikiqtarjuaq, Pond Inlet and Repulse Bay have managed the hunt. Prior to then, communities had to harvest under a Department of Fisheries and Oceans quota.
While the first two seasons went relatively well, both Repulse Bay and Qikiqtarjuaq reported that an extremely high number of the mammals were taken. DFO shut down Qikiqtarjuaq's hunt last fall because of conservation concerns.
Part of the process
Growing pains were expected with such a new process according to Glenn Williams, Nunavut Tunngavik's wildlife advisor.
"That's why it was only set for three years," said Williams.
What happens after this year remains to be seen.
NWMB will have to decide whether or not to remain on the new system at the conclusion of this year's harvest.
Williams said in order to ensure their decision was a sound one, and to generate understanding on the principles of community-based management and address any deficiencies, the partners involved in community-based management recently toured the communities using the system.
Arctic Bay and Kugaaruk/Pelly Bay were included because they've expressed interest in the process. Iqaluit and Kimmirut were also on the roster because of their involvement with beluga whales and community-based management.
Martha Newkingnak, the manager of the hunters and trappers association in Qikiqtarjuaq, said the public meeting was very successful.
She said a large number of community members came out to speak with the officials from DFO, NWMB and NTI.
"(Management) had never been done at the community level before. There was a learning (experience) for everyone," said Newkingnak.
She said the HTA planned to discuss ways to change their bylaws to prevent so many mammals from being harvested this year. Those changes will be voted on April 3.
"We've already made some improvements for the hunt this year. We think everybody understands it now. Everybody is cooperating and we're working on it," she said.
Extension requested
Ben Kovic, the chair of the NWMB, said communities may need more time to get the systems working.
"We learned a lot by going through the consultations. There's a lot of ideas out there the board needs to look at," said Kovic.
"There are requests for extension of the pilot projects. They're telling us three years might not be long enough."
The board will discuss the extensions and other matters related to community-based management at their board meeting in Iqaluit.
