Karen Mackenzie
Northern News Services
Monday, August 6, 2007

PELLY BAY - Kugaaruk residents were mystified by a round, bumpy fish that washed ashore after a storm in July.

John Ningark stumbled upon the odd-looking specimen on the beach near his house, and the find had community members stumped over its identification.

Kugaaruk residents were stumped by this round, bumpy fish, which washed ashore after a storm in July. - photos courtesy of Vincent Ningark

"Over the course of 50 years I have found quite a few things washed up on the beach, but this was the first one of its kind," Ningark said.

Local elder Josie Angutingunireq reportedly took one look at it and promptly named it 'Manitok,' meaning 'the rock one,' for the rough skins and pointy spikes that covered its back.

Ningark stored the fish, which measured about 12 centimetres long, in his freezer, and put a poster in a local store for others to see.

"I was very excited about it. Most of my grandchildren were here, and they saw it. Lots of grown-up people had never seen it before," he said.

After viewing a picture of Ningark's find, Rick Armstrong of the Nunavut Research Institute wrote that although he has lived in Nunavut for 30 years, he had never seen one either.

Both he and Keith Pelley, area director for Fisheries and Oceans Canada, believe the fish to be a Leatherfin Lumpsucker, a spiny cold-water fish that frequents Arctic waters.

"We do come across some species that (residents) haven't seen much of," Pelley said. "There are more people noticing things. It may be because people are more aware of global warming and are paying more attention to these things and changes. It's probably a good thing."

Lumpfish usually feed on invertebrates, small shrimp and jelly fish, Pelley said. On the east coast, Atlantic Lumpfish are harvested for their roe. Asked if Ningark's fish would make a good meal, Pelley laughed.

"Well, try it. It's probably tasty - you never know," he said.