Conference Call #51

Jim Noble presented a short summary of the NWMB financial position as at the end of May, covering the first two months of operation in the 2000/01 fiscal year. Jim reported no major unexpected financial developments to date.

The Board decided (Resolution 2000- 163) to accept the interim financial and variance report as at 31 May 2000.

4. Staffing Action: Harvest Study Co-ordinator

Jim Noble advised that three candidates were short-listed from the wide-ranging CWS competition, but none of them had successful interviews. The position was then advertised locally. One of applicants from the local competition was Heather Priest, a certified veterinarian. Ms Priest had a successful interview, was offered the job, and accepted. Her knowledge and experience should enable her to do the job very well, given some appropriate training notably in the use of Fox Pro computer programming.

5. Bowhead Hunt Plan for 2000

Ben Kovic advised the Board that he and Winston Fillatre of DFO met with the Hunt Planning Committee at Coral Harbour on June 16 - 17. Joanasie Akumalik of the QWB was also invited to participate but declined. Ben reported that the Planning Committee is determined to conduct a low-key, low-cost hunt. No salaries will be paid to participants. NTI has agreed to provide flotation suits for all hunt participants. The community-at-large is not expected to take boats to the hunting area, and local access will be primarily by ATV. A nearby landing strip will facilitate aircraft support if needed. The shoreline in the anticipated landing area has sharp limestone rocks that will preclude dragging a harvested whale out of the water. The whale will need to be butchered on the flats at low-tide. This and the fact that the water depth in the hunting area is much less than that at the previous two hunt sites means that previous hunt plans cannot serve as very effective models for the current hunt. Mr. Fillatre took the opportunity to conduct a preliminary examination of the hunting equipment, and identified no problems that he considered insurmountable.

Michelle Wheatley interpreted that the current draft of the Hunt Plan represents a significant improvement over two earlier versions. She referred to her briefing note in which she identified eleven remaining shortcomings. Michelle did not consider that the Committee would have much difficulty addressing these.

Gordon Koshinsky suggested five provisos to be taken into account and addressed in the course of finalizing the Hunt Plan:

• That the eleven specific shortcomings tabulated by the Director of Wildlife Management be addressed in the Hunt Plan.

• That a clear and definitive confirmation of community support be obtained.

• That rifles not be allowed in the participating boats as a condition of licence.

• That there be confirmation of operational freezer capacity in the community to accommodate the meat and muktuk before the hunt can proceed.

• That the weapons to be used in the hunt be operationally tested before the hunt is allowed to commence.

The Board decided (Resolution 2000- 164) to grant provisional approval to the Plan for the 2000 Bowhead Hunt at Coral Harbour as per the current draft, subject to the five conditions identified in the preceding discussion.

Ben Kovic announced that he was going to Coral Harbour later in the day in order to transmit the Board’s instructions and remaining concerns, and to continue working with the Planning Committee and with the community to finalize the Hunt Plan and other arrangements for the hunt.

6. Response of the DFO Minister to NWMB Decisions re SE Baffin Beluga

Michelle Wheatley referred the Members to the two recent (June 23) letters from the DFO Minister in response to the decisions of the NWMB with respect to the management of beluga whales in the SE Baffin. By the nature of his response the Minister effectively rejected all of the NWMB decisions, albeit specifically repudiating only certain particular components, namely:

The NWMB decision to increase the annual beluga quota at Pangnirtung from 35 to 48 animals, and
The NWMB decision to extend the new community-based management system at Iqaluit for a period of not less than five years.

Michelle observed that the Minister’s rejection of the NWMB decision to expand the beluga quota for Pangnirtung could be attributed in the final analysis to the lack of a meaningful contribution from DFO regional and scientific staff during the NWMB decision-making process. Officials were invited to provide guidance on what a sustainable quota might be, but steadfastly declined to do so. For that matter, DFO regional staff apparently also played no role in formulating the Minister’s response. Michelle suggested that the Minister’s rejection of the NWMB decision to entrench the new beluga management system at Iqaluit for a period of at least five years was probably due primarily to a misunderstanding of NWMB intentions and rationale. The NWMB contends that the elimination of quotas one year at a time is an invitation to abuse. Michelle also suggested that the Minister’s expressed willingness to defer to the management systems that were established for Iqaluit and Kimmirut for 1999 seems retrogressive in that it would perpetuate the elimination of quotas without requiring new and improved hunting rules. Michelle noted that the Minister did not specifically reject the NWMB decision with respect to Kimmirut, except to the effect that the decision was embodied in the same NWMB Resolution that pertained to Iqaluit.

Gordon Koshinsky expressed disappointment that two new Ministerial rejections of NWMB decisions had now been added to the record, especially since it seemed that those rejections stemmed to such a significant degree from the lack of an integrated effort within the Department. Michelle expressed optimism that the concerns identified by the Minister by way of justifying his rejection of the NWMB decisions could be addressed relatively easily through interaction with DFO staff at the regional level, and that NWMB final decisions could be formulated in a manner that would be acceptable to the Minister.

The Board directed Michelle to interact with DFO regional and scientific staff in order to identify a compromise beluga quota for Pangnirtung, and then to draft NWMB final decisions with respect to SE Baffin beluga management that took account of the preceding discussion, this for the consideration of the Board at the next Conference Call.

7. Bathurst Caribou Planning Agreement

Michelle Wheatley reminded the Members that the NWMB has been asked to be a signatory to the Planning Agreement and to appoint a representative to the Planning Committee. Michelle noted that virtually all of the recommendations put forward by the NWMB in order to arrive at the current version of the Planning Agreement had been incorporated.

The Board decided (Resolution 2000- 165) to accept the role of signatory to the Bathurst Caribou Planning Agreement, and to appoint Makabe Nartok as the NWMB representative to the Planning Committee.

8. Future of the Beverly/Qamanirjuac Caribou Management Board

Jim Noble advised the Members that the Beverly and Qamanirjuac Barren Ground Caribou Management Agreement is scheduled to terminate in June of 2002. The B/Q Board Secretary has indicated informally that the B/Q Board will soon be approaching Ministers to seek an extension of the Agreement and of the B/Q Board’s mandate. The NWMB can expect an invitation to provide input to this decision.

The Board decided to defer consideration of this matter to a later date.

9. Requests for Arctic Charr Commercial Fishery Amendments

Michelle Wheatley advised that the Board had requests from the Pangnirtung HTO and from the Mittimatalik HTO for revisions to Arctic charr commercial fishery quotas for waters adjacent to those communities.

The Board decided to defer consideration of these matters to a later date.

10. Re-visitation of NWMB Study Fund Project: Monitoring Geese at Arviat

Michelle Wheatley advised that the Arviat HTO and the KWF had responded to her written request for clarification of the proposed use of helicopters to herd snow geese in the course of executing the goose-monitoring project near Arviat this coming summer. Both agencies replied to the effect that it would not be practical to alter the project plan for 2000 to the extent of moving fully to non-mechanized means for the herding function. They proposed that mechanized and non-mechanized herding methodologies be compared as part of the 2000 program, with a view to obtaining guidance for future years.

David Alagalak spoke in favour of the compromise solution as proposed. The Board decided (Resolution 2000- 166) to accept this compromise and to release funding for the project as per the conditional approval granted earlier.

11. Polar Bear Population Status: M’Clintock Channel

Michelle Wheatley advised that DSD has prepared a very technical interim report on their recent M’Clintock Channel polar bear population survey. DSD staff are preparing a less technical summary for the guidance of the Board and for use in the community consultations that are being contemplated as background for any quota adjustments.

12. Bonus for NWMB Legal Advisor

Jim Noble referred to the briefing material that were prepared with respect to this matter subsequent to the previous Conference Call. Jim reviewed some highlights of the Legal Advisor’s recent contributions to the NWMB exercising its mandate. Jim reminded the Members that the Board’s contract with the Legal Advisor contains provision for the payment of annual bonuses, at the discretion of the Board, in the range of 0 to 5% of aggregate professional fees.

The Board decided (Resolution 2000- 167) to grant a 3.75% bonus to the NWMB Legal Advisor for each of the fiscal years 1998/99 and 1999/00, calculated with respect to the Legal Advisor’s aggregate professional service fees for those two periods.

13. Adjournment

The Conference Call adjourned at 10 a.m. Iqaluit time.

Minutes Approved by:_________________________ __________________

Chairperson Date

RESOLUTIONS: CONFERENCE CALL 51

Resolution 2000- 163: Resolved that the NWMB accept the interim financial and variance report as at 31 May 2000.

Moved by: Makabe Nartok Seconded by: Joan Scottie

Carried Date: 28 June 2000

Resolution 2000- 164: Resolved that the NWMB grant provisional approval to the Coral Harbour Bowhead Hunt Plan for 2000 as per the current draft of that Plan, subject to the following conditions being addressed in the course of finalizing the Plan and providing for its implementation:

• That the eleven specific shortcomings tabulated by the Director of Wildlife Management in her briefing note of 23 June be addressed in the Hunt Plan.

• That a clear and definitive confirmation of community support be obtained.

• That rifles not be allowed in the participating boats as a condition of licence.

• That there be confirmation of operational freezer capacity in the community to accommodate the meat and muktuk before the hunt can proceed.

• That the weapons to be used in the hunt be operationally tested before the hunt is allowed to commence.

Moved by: Gordon Koshinsky Seconded by: Meeka Mike

Carried Date: 28 June 2000

Resolution 2000– 165: Resolved that the NWMB accept the role of signatory to the Bathurst Caribou Planning Agreement, and appoint Makabe Nartok as the NWMB representative to the Planning Committee.

Moved by: Joan Scottie Seconded by: David Alagalak

Carried Date: 28 June 2000

Resolution 2000- 166: Resolved that the NWMB approve the release of NWMB Study funds in the amount of $10,200 for the Arviat goose monitoring project for 2000, this on the understanding that mechanized and non-mechanized goose-herding methods will be compared with regard to cost and effectiveness as part of the 2000 program and with a view to obtaining guidance for future years.

Moved by: Gordon Koshinsky Seconded by: David Alagalak

Carried Date: 28 June 2000

Resolution 2000- 167: Resolved that the NWMB grant a 3.75% bonus to the NWMB Legal Advisor for each of the fiscal years 1998/99 and 1999/00, calculated with respect to the Legal Advisor’s aggregate professional service fees for those two periods.

Moved by: David Alagalak Seconded by: Meeka Mike

Carried Date: 28 June 2000

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