Philippe Morin
Northern News Services
Published Monday, September 17, 2007

BEAUFORT DELTA - How to best maintain the integrity of the Beaufort Sea to preserve habitat and aboriginal traditional way of life was the topic of discussion in Inuvik.

At the beginning of the month, representatives from the Inuvialuit, Gwich'in, federal and territorial governments, as well as representatives of the Yukon government, gathered in Inuvik to discuss the matter. It was the third such gathering since July 2006

A total of five sessions are scheduled, which will seek a "coordinated approach" to the ocean's preservation under a framework called the Beaufort Sea Regional Coordination Committee. Nellie Cournoyer, who is head of the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation and also co-chair of the board, said the idea is to create one set of rules to govern the sea, to avoid conflicting laws and overlapping jurisdictions.

"So many people have an interest in what's going to happen with the management of the ocean," she said.

"They all have agendas, and we're trying to pull them all together to get an integrated plan that makes sense."

Cournoyer was joined by co-chair of the board Frank Pokiak and Bob Lambe, regional director general for the Arctic and central region with Fisheries and Oceans Canada.

On Sept. 6, Lambe said the group's consultations should be complete within a year, and its recommendations would be sent to Fisheries and Oceans Canada at the federal level.

He noted the board would also schedule consultations with residents in coastal areas of the Beaufort delta, though no dates have yet been scheduled. After three days of meetings, Lambe said it was clear oceans management was not an easy task, because of the number of parties involved in negotiations.

"It's complex, there's no doubt it takes a lot of patience and interaction. We have to make sure everyone's questions are answered," he said.

Some examples of ocean management topics include the allocation of fishing and oil exploration permits, as well as the creation of marine protected areas.

Under the Federal government's Oceans Action Plan, established in 2004, the government has called for more integrated management of oceans, to ensure traditional users such as aboriginal peoples are included in the creation of legislation.

Cournoyer said she agrees aboriginal people should participate in oceans management.

"The Inuvialuit will have a major role, given they are major users of the ocean," she said.

"We have a very clear interest that it sustain itself for a long period of time," she said.