Biologist seeks local knowledge on broad whitefish
Malcolm Gorrill
Northern News Services
Inuvik (Apr 06/01) - Sam Stephenson is an expert marine fisheries biologist, but he wants to hear what Inuvik residents have to say about broad whitefish.
So he is holding a series of community meetings because the broad whitefish is to be the focus of the second integrated fisheries management plan (IFMP) in this area. The first IFMP, on inconnu, was completed last year.
Stephenson, who works for Fisheries and Oceans in Inuvik, said one problem with the inconnu plan was a lack of community consultation during the process, which is something he wants to change this time around.
Stephenson held a meeting in Inuvik last week and expressed disappointment with the poor turnout, saying it's quite important to hear local observations.
He said he wants to know if people have noticed changes in the fish over the past two decades, in things such as size, parasites, or different runs or spawning areas.
"We have to find out where they are to properly protect the species," Stephenson said.
"People that are living out on the land, lifting nets every day, see a heck of a lot more fish than any biologist in DFO is ever going to see."
The broad whitefish was picked because it's harvested in the highest numbers in the Inuvialuit Harvest Study and the Gwich'in Harvest Study.
As well, Stephenson said that if ever a large scale commercial fishery was to succeed here, it would be based on the broad whitefish.
"It's great. It's the best tasting fish in the Delta," he said.
"It's also a bit of a unique Northern species. Basically you don't get it out of the territories. It does show up in B.C. just a little bit."
Stephenson said IFMPs are relatively new to the North and are taking effect across the country.
He said a second round of community meetings will take place in the fall, and that a draft may come out by the end of the year. The finished plan is expected in late 2002.
"The plans kind of stay in effect forever. They don't make really any drastic changes to anybody's lifestyle."
The IFMP will include a five-year work plan.
