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NUNAVUT
The federal government will visit nine communities next month to discuss harvest levels for narwhal and gain feedback on a management plan, and Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. (NTI) has announced it will participate as well.

Officials from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans will travel to Pangnirtung, Qiqiktarjuaq, Clyde River, Pond Inlet, Arctic Bay, Grise Fiord, Iqaluit, Kugaaruk and Repulse Bay next month as they are preparing a draft Integrated Fisheries Management Plan for narwhal.

The consultations will include representatives from hunters and trappers organizations as well as regional wildlife offices from 23 communities that harvest narwhal.

Federal officials want to introduce a new management system for narwhal, notably to establish allowable harvest quotas for each stock based on summering stocks, stated NTI in a press release. It adds the management plan is necessary to protect the international trade of narwhal tusks.

The federal government had announced late in 2010 it would only issue export permits under the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species for narwhal tusks harvested from Kugaaruk, Taloyoak, Gjoa Haven, Iglulik and Pond Inlet. The feds later decided to also allow export permits for tusks harvested from Arctic Bay, Clyde River, Qikiqtarjuaq, Pangnirtung and Iqaluit.

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