by Richard Gleeson
Northern News Services

PANGNIRTUNG (May 04/98) - The summer bowhead hunt is a go.

As the snow was flying in Pangnirtung Friday, the Qikiqtaaluq Wildlife Management Board huddled in hamlet offices to iron out details of the hunt.

Pangnirtung hunter Jaco Evic will lead a 24-man team that will be selected from across Nunavut. The hunt will be launched from Pangnirtung between June 15 and Sept. 31, depending on ice conditions, said the board's executive director, Joanasie Akumalik.

"We're trying to stay below the $100,000 mark," said Akumalik referring to cost.

Six boats will be involved, two headed by the hunt captains, two acting as support vessels and two boats providing security, keeping a three-kilometre radius around the hunt clear of other vessels.

The Department of Fisheries and Oceans will also be part of the hunt. "They're going to act as observers, to record the killing and to make a report on the hunt," said Akumalik. "I really appreciate their assistance to us."

Ottawa last spring accepted a Nunavut Wildlife Management Board recommendation that hunters be given a two-year quota of one bowhead.

The Nunavut board delegated authority for organizing the hunt to the Qikiqtaaluq board, which is responsible for wildlife in the Baffin region.

At the time federal approval was granted the NWMB said it would gauge reaction from animal rights activists before allowing the hunt to proceed. The board was concerned the hunt might result in a harmful boycott of Northern goods. The bowhead is classified as an endangered species.

That backlash may soon begin. According to a xxxGlobe and Mail article last week, the International Whaling Commission may make recommendations on the hunt following presentations from scientists who say the hunt threatens the Eastern Arctic bowhead population.

Though no accurate population counts have been made, scientists estimate there are about 10,000 bowheads worldwide, with fewer than 1,000 in Eastern Arctic waters.