Richard Gleeson
Northern News Services

NNSL (May 11/98) - The group organizing this summer's Nunavut bowhead whale hunt will allow media to cover the hunt, as long as they stay three kilometres away.

In a press release issued Thursday, Qikiqtaaluk bowhead planning committee vice-chairman Joannie Ikkidluak justified prohibiting media from entering a 3.2-kilometre (two-mile) radius around the hunt by saying, "The media that covered the last hunt, at Repulse Bay, interfered with the purpose of the hunt."

The Repulse Bay hunt was plagued by problems, which were widely publicized in Northern media.

Qikiqtaaluk Wildlife Board executive director Jonasie Akumalik said the limitation, which applies to all boats not directly involved in the hunt, was imposed to protect both media and the hunters.

"We'd feel kind of responsible if they (media) were in the boat and something went wrong," said Akumalik, noting the barrage of rifle fire that occurred during the 1996 hunt.

This time around, hunters will be equipped with ammunition with exploding heads. The hunt will be launched from Pangnirtung sometime during the first two weeks of July.

Akumalik said it was not up to the committee to decide if it has the legal authority to limit the movement of boats in Cumberland Sound, where the hunt is to occur.

"We're going to be submitting this in an application to the Department of Fisheries and Oceans," said Akumalik. "They're the guys who will draw up the actual licence."

Asked if the limitation was being imposed to eliminate the possibility of the hunt being criticized, Akumalik said the committee had agreed problems with the last hunt had been "sensationalized" in the media, particularly on television.

"The committee felt they wanted to keep this as low profile as possible," said Akumalik. "Some felt that the outcome of that last hunt was not acceptable."

The question of whether the group has is legal authority to impose such a limitation remains unanswered.

Fisheries and Oceans spokesman Sharon Leonhard said there are regulations to guard against the harassment of whales, but said none of them define distances.

"The short answer is, we don't know," said Leonhard.

Kumalik said the committee is recommending that media and the public be allowed inside the requested restricted zone once the whale is killed and secured.