18 June 2018
2SSRUWXQLWLHV 1257+
FISHERIES
Nunavut turbot valued at $84 million Shrimp catch far less than quota; Qikiqtani Fisheries Alliance takes form Inuit employment through fisheries 2017:
Cumberland Sound Fisheries and Pangnirtung Fisheries – 90 Baffin Fisheries – 50 Kitikmeot Foods Ltd. – 35 Arctic Fisheries Alliance – 30 Pangnirtung Fish Plant – 30 Kivalliq Arctic Foods Ltd – 30 Qikiqtaaluk Corporation – 28
Source: Department of Environment
by Derek Neary
Northern News Services
Nunavut
Nunavut's turbot harvest rose to 11,353 tonnes and the catch amounted to $84 million in 2017, according to the Department of Environment. Turbot fetched approximately $7,400 per tonne this past season. A full quota – 11,942.5 tonnes – would have been valued at $87.6 million. The total catch for Northern/striped shrimp came in at 4,089.5 tonnes in 2017, much lower than the 11,030-tonne quota.
Shrimp, valued at approximately $4,160 per tonne, brought in $17 million in revenue, but a full quota would have been worth $45.9 million. Only onethird of the total allowable catch in waters adjacent to Nunavut is allocated to the territory, and less than half of that amount is being exploited, according to the Department of Environment. Arctic char figures were not complete as of midApril. Out of the 362.8tonne char quota, Kitikmeot Foods Ltd. reported 41,700 kilograms, Kivalliq Arctic
photo courtesy of the Qikiqtaaluk Corporation
The Qikiqtaaluk Corporation's fishing vessel Saputi measures 76 metres in length and can hold up to 900 metric tonnes of turbot or 650 metric tonnes of Northern shrimp. Foods Ltd. accounted for 12,250 kg and the Pangnirtung fish plant reported 10,900 kg. The approximate value for char sold through Kitikmeot Foods Ltd. was $19.25 per kilogram while the Pangnirtung fish plant
was getting closer to $18.30 per kg. With three other fish plants yet to submit data, the known market value of the 2017-18 char catch was $1.2 million, whereas the total market value of full quota is $6.9 million.
SHRIMP QUOTA COULD GROW Nunavut's shrimp quota of just over 11,000 tonnes could grow in an area known as SFA1, which is fished jointly with Greenland. Nunavut's share in that zone is currently 3,722 tonnes, or 35 per cent of the 10,625-tonne overall quota, but there's a possibility to increase Canada's portion in the future, according to the Department of Environment. FUNDING TO HELP FISHERIES Territorial government investment through the fisheries development and diversification program reached $525,000 in 2017 while $190,000 was shelled out through fish freight program. Another $150,000 went to the Nunavut Fisheries Training Consortium. The Department of Environment estimates that more than 1,000 Inuit were directly involved in Nunavut's fisheries in 2017 and another 400 were indirectly involved. That includes subsistence hunters at close to two dozen hunters and trappers associations across Nunavut. NEW FISHERIES ALLIANCE Hunters and trappers associations (HTA) in Cape Dorset, Hall Beach, Iglulik and Sanikiluaq agreed to form the Qikiqtani Fisheries Alliance (QFA) in August. The four communities were previously not part of any other fishing coalitions. The QFA, a not-forprofit organization managed by the Qikiqtaaluk Corporation, is intended to
partake in commercial fishing, enhancement of inshore fisheries, promotion of economic and social development projects, undertake research on aquatic species and examine the viability of fisheries for clams, crab, shrimp, mussels, char, sea urchins, scallops and sea cucumbers. BOARD ELECTIONS FOR BAFFIN FISHERIES Baffin Fisheries elected Jerry Ell of Iqaluit as its new board chair in April. Kimmirut's Joannie Ikkidluaq was selected as vice-chair while Karen Nutarak of Pond Inlet is secretary treasurer. The Namautaq HTA of Clyde River elected Joavee Etuangat and the Pangnirtung HTA installed Patrick Kilabuk as new Baffin Fisheries' board members. President Jacopie Maniapik, vice-president Methusalah Kunuk and corporate treasurer Leo Maktar all remain in place. THIRTY YEARS OF ACTIVE FISHERIES Pangnirtung and Cumberland Sound fisheries mark 30-year anniversaries in 2018. Speaking in the legislative assembly, Pangnirtung MLA Margaret Nakashuk pointed out these organizations have taken over administration of their inshore fishery. "This fishery supports the Pangnirtung fish plant, which in turn provides invaluable income to our community, and many people are aware of this fact," Nakashuk said, adding that the 30 fish plant workers dress and package harvested turbot for export to markets overseas.