Daniel T'seleie
Northern News Services

Broughton Island (Aug 01/05) - Masiliit Corporation - an independent fishery started by Nattivak Hunters and Trappers Association in Qikiqtarjuaq - hopes to expand its involvement in the fishing industry with a 400 tonne turbot catch this summer.

The $94,000 pilot project, with $34,000 contributed by the Department of Environment, will employ 20 workers and test the feasibility of a fishing industry in the area off Baffin Island.

"We wanted to look at how we could do economic development locally," said Seemee Nookiguak, Nattivak's manager.

Masiliit hoped to be on the water near Qikiqtarjuaq by the end of July, but has not yet completed marine safety training for workers and does not have approval from the Nunavut Wildlife Management Board (NWMB) for the requested 400 tonne per year quota.

"We're just trying to reach the board members because of the urgency of that," said NWMB chief operating officer Jim Noble.

With about half the members out on the land, NWMB has not met to make a decision on the quota yet, Noble said.

Masiliit still hopes to take advantage of the short fishing season. Based on Nattivak test fisheries in the area, Nookiguak says there are lots of fish in the ocean around Qikiqtarjuaq.

This is Masiliit's first fishing project in the area.

The catch will be sold to a fish plant in Labrador.

If things go well this summer they plan on fishing the area every year.

A brighter future

Qikiqtarjuaq is a "have-not" community, said Nookiguak. "Traditionally, un-employment here is very high."

A fishing industry will make people less dependent on income-support, he said.

The project will attack other social problems by bringing money and jobs into the community, Nookiguak said.

"Like any other community there's also a shortage of housing," he said. "It's hard living in a three-bedroom house when there's 10 people involved."

This project will be a learning experience for the community, he said.