Qikiqtarjuaq Community Fisheries Development in a Changing Environment 1
Agenda • Time is right for fisheries • Northern challenges • Qikiqtarjuaq Pilot Project • Looking forward
Northern Challenges • Food Insecurity • High Costs • Health Problems • Remote Locations • Increased Access • Increased Development
Government Support • Joint Arctic Leaders’ Statement • Shared Arctic Leadership • DFO Support • INAC split – Indigenous Services and Indigenous-Crown Relations • Nunavut Government – Nunavut Fishery Strategy 2016-2020 – Nunavut Food Security Strategy and Action Plan 4
International Support Joint Arctic Leaders Statement – December 20 th , 2016 • Science Based Fisheries Management – Conserving Arctic biodiversity – Prevent UUI fishing – Incorporating Indigenous science and traditional knowledge (IQ) into decision- making – Building a sustainable Arctic economies – Benefit Arctic communities 5
Federal Support Mary Simon – March 2017 1. Partnership with Inuit 2. Cross government action a) Inter-departmental, inter-agency 3. Close infrastructure gap 4. Education and training are the foundation Federal Reviews (FA, NPA, NEB, CEAA) • Co-management with Aboriginal peoples for protection and harvesting 6
Departmental Support • DFO is committed to supporting the development of exploratory and commercial fisheries • DFO needs data on fish populations to make decisions • The more organized a community is the more support that DFO can offer – Scientific Fisheries – Exploratory Fisheries – Quota for inshore fisheries 7
Qikiqtarjuaq • Northeast Baffin Island • Baffin Bay/Davis Straight • Broughton Island • 520 people • Tourism, fishing, whaling, clothing industries
Qikiqtarjuaq • Increasing population • Outmigration • Lack of economic opportunity • Isolated • High food costs • Infrastructure needs
Community Fisheries Opportunities • Local desire for development • Underdeveloped fisheries • Char, halibut, shrimp, whelk, scallop, arctic cod • Underutilized quota Challenges • Poor fisheries data capture • Regulatory hurdles for fisheries development • Capacity problems • Equipment, freezer, cut-room, technologies, coordination • Lack of markets
Potential of Community Fisheries • Sustainable fisheries development • Improved data collection • Opportunity for employment • Improved food security
New Community Fisheries – What Will Make it Possible to Get Going • Good information about local fish from elders/fishers (data on how many fish/where they are) • Help from DFO on rules and regulations for fisheries development • Advice on acquiring the basic equipment for a larger scale fishing operation : freezer, cut- room, a computer • Guidance from HTAs and DFO on co-ordination and co-management • Scientifically valid methods and support for community based fishery monitoring and research • Putting a plan in place- local 12
Potential of Collaboration • Promising partnerships are beginning to form between community, government and other organizations • Opportunity for sharing of knowledge • Elder to youth • Community to government • Government to community • Community to community • Leadership and connection with other northern communities
Milestones • HTA fisheries committee • Partnership with DFO – Joint letter between DFO and HTA – Statement of shared goals – Funding for Fisheries Liaison • Joint letter between SVS and HTA – plans to collaborate • Letter to UNFAO – seeking support • Nunavut Health Class 1 budget. • Territorial inspection (Aug 30) 14
Next Steps • Complete the inspection requirements • Get a CFIA approved Freezer • Complete CFIA inspection • Build internal capacity for fisheries Cooperative • Learn from successful Aboriginal fisheries (e.g. Cape Breton) • Funding - CanNor, DFO, WWF, FAO • Find more markets • Develop value added products • Fisheries Master Plan 15
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