Kerry McCluskey
Northern News Services

Iqaluit (Aug 13/01) - The newly struck Baffin Fisheries Coalition is finalizing harvesting agreements with four Canadian companies.

Peter Keenainak, the interim chair of the coalition, said last week he expected to sign off the agreements within a few days.

"The companies should be fishing around the 20th (of August)," said Keenainak, also the manager of marine development for Qikiqtaaluk Corporation.

Keenainak was unable to name those companies until the agreements are signed off.

Harvesting groups around the region created the coalition earlier this summer to ensure they maximize the turbot resource to be fished from the newly opened area known as Division OA.

Located just east of central and north 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 have been allocated. That resource is said to be worth some $6 million.

The coalition put out a request for proposals to fishers this July. Keenainak said they sent out packages of information to close to 30 companies, but only received proposals from four organizations.

"(The others) did indicate that they would be interested next year," he said.

Keenainak also said the coalition had tentatively scheduled a meeting for Oct. 30 and 31. A three-year work plan will be discussed and an executive council established at that time.

Coalition members include hunters and trappers organizations 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.