Fisheries get research boost
New research money will translate into jobs for Nunavut communities
Casey Lessard
Northern News Services
Published Monday, January 19, 2015
NUNAVUT
Nunavut's fisheries sector employs 370 people across the territory, bringing in $86 million in 2013/14, but governments and fisheries associations are hoping a $7.2 million joint funding increase will increase the opportunities available to Nunavut fishers.
Nunavut Environment Minister Johnny Mike and CanNor Minister Leona Aglukkaq announce increased funding for Nunavut fisheries research Jan. 12 in Iqaluit. - Casey Lessard/NNSL photo |
"This is good for our communities, it's creating jobs in our communities," said CanNor Minister Leona Aglukkaq, announcing the agency's portion, which is $4.3 million, in Iqaluit Jan. 12.
"For an industry that already means so much to so many Nunavummiut, there is still tremendous potential for further growth, and this is why our government is providing support in developing this important resource sector in a sustainable way that supports Nunavummiut."
The federal government will give its portion over two years, and other partners are adding $2.9 million during that time, to increase research into the populations of fish and seafood off Nunavut.
Most of that money, $3.63 million, will go to inshore fisheries science, including char, turbot and Qikiqtarjuaq clam fisheries.
Another $2.98 million will go directly to offshore fisheries science, to perform an annual multi-species survey, porcupine crab research and exploration, Northern shrimp and Greenland halibut aging, and halibut population genetics.
The coalition will also invest $591,407 to determine the viability of an inshore Greenland halibut fishery in Grise Fiord and Qikiqtarjuaq.
"This investment in scientific research is vital to maintaining and expanding a sustainable fishing industry in Nunavut," Nunavut Environment Minister Johnny Mike stated in a release. "I am pleased to see our Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit, which has formed the base of our harvest of fisheries stocks, supplemented through this support for inshore and offshore fisheries research and development."
A training institute spokesperson welcomed the announcements.
"There's no fishery going to be pursued without science backing it up," said Randy Pittman, co-ordinating instructor with Nunavut's Marine Training Institute. "So CanNor's investment in research is, from my background, excellent. The companies invest in the research as well. It's more of a partnership."
Pittman said there are many potentially lucrative fisheries in the territory.
"This research is critical to proving that it is," he said. "If it is, it will take a bit of time, but as Pangnirtung shows, they're now harvesting up to 500 tonnes of turbot there a year, which is about $2 million of turbot."
He said a harvesting and centralized production area are required to make it work, but doubts a fish plant would be viable in every community.
"When they do bring the catch ashore, they have to have some sort of shipping mechanism. For example, how do I get the fish from Qikiqtarjuaq to Pang?"
He notes that support for the industry does pay off, with char from Cambridge Bay being sought after in San Francisco restaurants, for example.
"I think there's a fabulous future in the fishery over the next number of years," Pittman said.
