Kerry McCluskey
Northern News Services
Iqaluit (Jun 18/01) - Harvesting groups around the Baffin are working together to make the most of a new resource.
The new Baffin Fisheries Coalition aims to ensure they get the maximum benefit from turbot harvested in the newly opened area known as Division OA.
Located just east of Baffin Island in the Davis Strait/Baffin Bay area, the zone will be fished commercially for the first time this year.
Nunavut fishers are entitled to harvest the entire 4,000 metric tonnes that has been allocated.
The resource is said to be worth about $6 million.
The coalition came together May 28 with the signing of a memorandum of understanding setting out their goals and objectives.
Coalition members include Hunters and Trappers Associations from Pond Inlet, Clyde River, Qikiqtarjuaq, Pangnirtung, Iqaluit and Kimmirut as well as Cumberland Sound Fisheries, Pangnirtung Fisheries, Aqviq Marine, Kabva Marine and the Qikiqtaaluk Corp. (QC).
Peter Keenainak, manager of marine development for QC, was appointed to chair the coalition until it incorporates and meets again this October.
He said his immediate goals were to implement the principles of the memorandum.
"This is a good step," said Keenainak.
"It unifies the Baffin region in terms of the turbot quotas and that's important because we have 4,000 metric tonnes. That's big."
Keenainak is now preparing a request for proposals to fishers -- including southern fishers interested in joint ventures with Nunavummiut -- who want to take part in the harvest.
All Nunavut fishers who participate in the fishery will re-invest the money earned back into the fishery for the next three years.
That will provide the coalition the time and money it needs to develop the emerging fishery.
The dollars would go back into things like training Inuit, investing in vessels, encouraging scientific research on turbot stocks in the area and lobbying the federal government for access to other fishing quotas.
A three-year work plan is also being devised.
Fishing will likely begin in August or September.
