NUNAVUT
The Baffin Fisheries Coalition (BFC) has made two major moves recently, after purchasing the Sivulliq and acquiring full ownership of the M.V. Inuksuk.

Baffin Fisheries Coalition's newest trawler, the MV Sivulliq, was scheduled for its first maiden voyage on Oct. 16. The company also recently acquired full ownership of its other trawler, the MV Inuksuk. - photo courtesy of Baffin Fisheries Coalition

Operations assistant Patrick Martin told Nunavut News/North the trawlers mark a turning point for the wholly-Inuit-owned organization.

"It's a very proud moment for the Inuit board members," he said of the shift from the 49-per-cent ownership stake with Icelanders on Oct. 16. "It feels like this is our resource and we've acquired these vessels now on our own terms and we have a very good future in the fisheries and to move forward."

BFC was formed in 2000 by hunters and trappers organizations on Baffin Island, and headquartered in Iqaluit.

Martin said there are good prices for both shrimp and turbot, a kind of flatfish, right now, and the ownership of both the Sivulliq and Inuksuk definitely increase the company's capacity for more business.

"We feel that now we can go out and negotiate some southern quotas," he said. "This does allow us to fish in the winter months. From a business perspective we feel that we can sit down seriously with other companies and negotiate some deals there."

Martin said BFC's quota allocations for shrimp and turbot, a kind of flatfish, give the company a good base to build upon.

"Traditionally, we would employ other vessels in order to fish that quota in a given year," he said. "Now we can use our vessels to fish that quota."

Martin said this means more profits kept within BFC, especially since the coalition is marketing its own products.

"Definitely - financially -- gains for our company for sure," he said.

When it comes to staffing the two fishing vessels, Martin said the full positions in ownership mean the BFC is now able to push for more Inuit employees as well as draw new crew to the company.

"Sivulliq is a modern vessel and we think it will help attract interest in the fisheries as a viable source of employment for the people of Nunavut," he said. "We expect good things from there for sure."

BFC president Adamee Itorcheak said the 64-metre Norwegian arctic deep-sea shrimp trawler, formerly named the Remoy, is scheduled to be at sea for just over three weeks for its maiden voyage.

However, it first had to go through an immunization process to bring it up to Canadian standards due to its foreign status.

"We had some emergency training too," he said. "We do have guys who've been through training but on a new vessel they go through an orientation. I'm sure they'll be kinks to work out just like anything."

Itorcheak said the Sivulliq's maiden voyage was scheduled to be 3.5 weeks long, with 29 people on board. He also said the vessel will be one of the most technologically advanced fishing vessels in the North.

Martin did not disclose the specific terms of financing for the two vessels, but did say that the process started late last winter.

A news release said that financing for the purchase of the Sivulliq was provided by private Canadian lending company Bridging Finance Inc.

BFC is also 100-per-cent owner of two large factory freezer fixed gear vessels, the MV Sikuvut and the MV Arluk II.

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