NUNAVUT
A Department of Fisheries and Oceans policy on commercial fishing is discriminatory against Nunavut fisheries, Sen. Dennis Patterson argued on the Senate floor June 17.

Nunavut Sen. Dennis Patterson is urging the government to respect the territory's rights when making any changes to the Northern shrimp fishery quota allocations in Arctic waters. The Arctic Fisheries Alliance vessel Kiviuq I is seen here anchored near Grise Fiord in 2014 as it took part in examining the viability of a turbot fishery. - photo courtesy of Mark Akeeagok

The federal government department introduced Last In First Out (LIFO) in 2003 as part of its Integrated Fisheries Management Plan. Under LIFO, as quotas are reduced due to climate change, new licence holders lose their shrimp quotas before older ones.

"Since Nunavut was established in 1999, this policy favours the older and established fishing companies that have been trolling for fish and shrimp in our Arctic waters for decades," Patterson told fellow senators.

"The LIFO policy directly discriminates against Nunavut."

Patterson's message comes ahead of possible changes being made to the Northern shrimp fishery quota allocations in Arctic waters next month.

He referenced recommendations from a 2002 report the federal government accepted that, with respect to the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement, the government shall ensure a fair distribution of licences between residents of the Nunavut Settlement Area and other residents of Canada in a manner consistent with Canada's inter-jurisdictional obligations.

The panel also recommended that no additional access should be granted to non-Nunavut interests in waters adjacent to Nunavut until the territory has achieved access to a major share of its adjacent fishery resources.

Patterson said jurisdictions in the rest of Canada hold 80 to 95 per cent of their quotas in adjacent waters but that Nunavut continues to have less than 38 per cent of the total allowable catch in its waters.

"Under the NLCA, the government is also required to consult with the Nunavut Wildlife Management Board on wildlife management measures before policies are established or implemented," said Patterson. "LIFO is one such policy but no such consultation has occurred."

He urged the government and Fisheries and Oceans Minister Dominic Leblanc to consider the recommendations of the NWMB and the issues of adjacency and consultation when making the determination on Northern shrimp quota allocations, set for a decision in July.

"All Nunavut asks for is to be treated fairly and to have the terms of their constitutionally protected Nunavut land claim respected," said Patterson.

In 2013-14, the total market value of Nunavut's offshore and inland fisheries was $86 million and created 370 seasonal jobs.

Since 2005, more than 700 people have been trained in the sector, thanks in part to implementation of the Nunavut Fisheries Strategy.

Three Nunavut Inuit-owned companies now own their own fishing vessels.

Leblanc is expected to announce his decision at the Northern Shrimp Advisory Committee meeting in Montreal July 7.

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