Opportunities NORTH FISHERIES Nunavut turbot catch nets $125.8 million

By Derek Neary Northern News Services

The value of turbot from Nunavut-adjacent waters in 2022 came in at $125.8 million based on 17,473.9 tonnes. That was a 4.1 per cent decrease from $131.2 million in value the previous year.

The northern and striped shrimp harvest was worth $86.7 million with 19,279 tonnes landed, according to the Department of Fisheries and Oceans.

Some of Nunavut’s turbot and shrimp catch is brought in by fishers from Canada’s East Coast, such as those from Newfoundland and Labrador.

For Arctic char, the 85,249 kilograms caught in 2022 was worth $284,800. That’s up from approximately 62,000 kg in 2021.

Troubling news came in February 2023 when the federal government announced that it would be cutting the turbot allotment off of Nunavut-adjacent waters by nine per cent. The reason for the reduction was due to a lack of research on the species since 2017, which is the federal government’s responsibility.

The Nunavut Fisheries Association calculated that as a loss of close to $13 million for future fishing seasons.

Several pots

The Government of Nunavut (GN) has several pots of funding for the territory’s fisheries in 2023-24.

There’s $525,000 designated for the Fisheries Development and Diversification Program, $190,000 for the Commercial Fisheries Freight Subsidy, $150,000 for the Seal Contribution Program, $12,000 for the Seals and Sealing Network and $10,000 for the Seal Grant Program.

The GN’s 2021-22 grants and contributions program reveals that $150,000 in Fisheries Development and Diversification Funding went to each of the Qikiqtaaluk Corporation and Qikiqtani Resource Institute; Pangnirtung Fisheries Ltd. received $68,930.46 in Fish Freight Subsidy Funding; the Gjoa Haven Hunters and Trappers got $63,432.29 in Fisheries Development and Diversification Funding; and the Nunavut Fisheries Association benefitted from $60,377.27 in Fisheries Development and Diversification Funding.

Baffin Seafood is birthed

In April, Baffin Fisheries announced that it is creating Baffin Seafood, an offshoot to internationally market and sell cold-water seafood products, such as turbot and shrimp. The Inuit-owned company represents industry participants in Clyde River, Iqaluit, Kimmirut, Pangnirtung and Pond Inlet.

Inshore fishery

Last November, the Qikiqtaaluk Corporation (QC) declared its intentions to develop an inshore fishery through a $1 million commitment.

Scallops, sea urchins and sea cucumbers will be harvested.

“QC is excited to enter into this partnership with the Future Skills Centre on skills development related to inshore fisheries development in our member communities in the Qikiqtani region,” said Peter Keenainak, vice-president of fisheries with QC. “This support will focus on developing the management and entrepreneurial skills of local Inuit to help them lead the development of inshore fisheries in their communities.”

Jerry Ward, director of QC’s fisheries division, said the first year would involve a pilot project in two Qikiqtani communities with a desire to eventually expand to 13 communities in the region.

An independent study released in 2020, commissioned by the Nunavut Fisheries Association, concluded that Nunavut’s fisheries created close to 1,000 full-time jobs in 2019