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New vessel arrives in Grise Fiord The Atlantic Prospect will conduct survey of Jones Sound area
Myles Dolphin
Northern News Services
Published Monday, September 16, 2013
AUSUITTUQ/GRISE FIORD
Members of the Iviq Hunters and Trappers Organization of Grise Fiord are rejoicing after the arrival of a highly-anticipated boat on Sept. 10.
The Arctic Fishery Alliance 30-metre factory freezer vessel the Suvak, shown above last year, is being joined by the Atlantic Prospect, another 30-metre boat which was pressed into service in Jones Sound on Sept. 11. - NNSL file photo |
The Atlantic Prospect, a fishing vessel purchased by the Arctic Fishery Alliance (AFA) - a partnership of hunters and trappers associations from Qikiqtarjuaq, Grise Fiord, Arctic Bay and Resolute Bay - began a 13-day exploratory fishing survey in nearby Jones Sound to determine how much turbot is in the area.
The 30-metre vessel, acquired by the AFA earlier this year, picked up five fishermen in the hamlet and dropped the first set of hooks in Jones Sound on Sept. 11.
The vessel was initially scheduled to depart Grise Fiord the day before, but strong winds reaching 80 km/h made it impossible to ferry the fishers to the boat.
Iviq HTO chairperson Jaypetee Akeeagok said the arrival of the vessel was a "dream come true."
"This is one of the few highlights since we've been a part of the AFA," he said.
"We are hoping they will find turbot because it could generate some revenue for this community. We are optimistic about it."
Akeeagok said there is currently no fishing quota for turbot in Jones Sound because the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada doesn't know if there is any turbot in the area.
"But we know there are some there," he added.
"No research has been done on the turbot population there yet."
Grise Fiord joined the coalition over five years ago when it was initially created in May 2008 but this is the first year the hamlet has really made its presence known in the association.
Although the HTO was able to get a 13-day exploratory license, Akeeagok was anticipating four to five days of actual work in the area, depending on ice conditions.
Jack Willie, manager of the Ikajutit HTA of Arctic Bay, said he believed exploratory fishing in Admiralty Inlet and Lancaster had been cancelled this year. He had no details of the cancellation for the time being.
The AFA is 100 per cent Inuit owned and manages all its harvesting capacity.
In 2010, the partnership purchased its first vessel, the Suvak - a 30-metre factory-freezer fixed gear boat - to harvest its Greenland turbot quotas.
Quttiktuq MLA Ron Elliott said he's proud to endorse and support programs like the one being done by the AFA which can take matters such as high cost of living into their own hands.
"The Government of Nunavut recognizes the cost of living in the High Arctic but there hasn't been much movement there in the last five years," he said.
"The communities are responding by creating partnerships such as the AFA and providing jobs for people working on the vessel and people in training. This is the way I like to see things work; instead of sitting around the (HTOs) go out and find solutions and work with partners to access funding."
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