Jorge Barrera
Northern News Services

Coppermine (Mar 11/02) - Stopping the construction of a breakwater and port in Kugluktuk to run a fish habitat study defies common sense, says the hamlet's deputy mayor.

The Department of Fisheries recently ordered a halt to construction of a new $1.2-million breakwater four kilometres from the community.

"They threw common sense and traditional knowledge out the window," said Peter Taptuna. "What they want is scientific data."

The department's habitat biologist assigned to the project could not be reached by press time.

Ipeelee Itorcheak, a fisheries officer in Iqaluit, said he didn't know the details of the issue.

He confirmed the department's policy that a fish habitat study is required before construction can begin in a body of water.

"Work can be conducted after an assessment is done," said Itorcheak.

Taptuna said the study could mean a delay in the project of up to two seasons.

The department's demands don't make sense, he said, because barges and tugboats get stuck in the bay all the time, destroying fish habitat. The new breakwater and port are slated to be built four kilometres down the beach, eliminating the yearly problems.

"We have wildlife people that have observed accidents happening and observed fish flying out of the water and fish being killed when tugboats get stuck," said Taptuna.

The community planned to save money by piling the breakwater on top of the ice in the bay this winter.

During breakup the breakwater would sink to the bottom, avoiding the extra costs associated with building a causeway.

In the works for five years, Taptuna said the community thought the project was in the clear after completing some preliminary pipeline work last fall.

The new pipeline taking gas from the barges to the tank farm will run outside the community. The current line runs straight through the middle of Kugluktuk.

Taptuna has not given up on the project yet. "We are going to continue talking," he said.