NUNAVUT WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT BOARD

MINUTES: CONFERENCE CALL No. 69

MONDAY, 5 MAY 2003

Agenda
Opening by Chairperson
Swearing-in Ceremony for New Member
Review/Approval of Agenda
Walrus Sport Hunt Allocations 2003(Salluit)
Qikitarjuak Clam Fishery: Update
NWMB Study Funds 2003/04: Review and Approval
Request for Additional Funding 0A Turbot Survey
Turbot: OA 2003 Harvest Level Recommendations
Shrimp Management Plan: Need for Proper Briefing
Community Based Management Review
Resolutions

1. Opening by Chairperson

The Chairperson called the meeting to order at 10:30 am.

2. Swearing-in Ceremony for New Member

Paul Pemik, appointee to the NWMB from the Kivalliq Inuit Association was officially sworn-in by Michael d’Eça, NWMB Legal Advisor. Paul’s appointment became effective April 10th, 2003 for a period of four years. The Board members all welcomed Paul as a new member.

3. Review/Approval of Agenda

The members approved the agenda with the addition of three items:

• Update on Wildlife Act
• Information Item on Clam Harvesting in Qikiqtarjuaq
• Information on the upcoming meeting in Arviat

4. Walrus Sport Hunt Allocations 2003(Salluit)

Note: Paul Pemik and Nick Amautinuar were replaced by Makivik members Johnny Peters and Pauloosie Novalinga for this item in the agenda.

Michelle Wheatley reviewed her briefing note with the members. Robert Moshenko questioned why Mr. Keatainak (Salluit) receives an allocation directly rather than going through a Hunting Trapping and Fishing Committee similar to how it occurs in Nunavut. Stas Olpinski advised that Mr. Keatainak is the only individual who showed any interest in conducting a sport hunt and has the support of the HTFC. The Board approved (Resolution 2003- 007) an allocation of eight walrus for Mr. Keatainak, with various conditions.

5. Qikitarjuak Clam Fishery: Update

Michael d’Eça noted that the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) wrote a letter to Nunavut advising that they are not inspecting clams for contamination and it is the responsibility of Nunavut to ensure the safety of this product. Michael noted that DFO has refused to issue an experimental licence this current year due to the concern for public safety. Michael advised that he had attended a briefing session with CFIA and heard the concerns regarding this matter. Michael recommended that the Board immediately send a letter to the Departments involved calling on them to respond to the requirement for testing of shellfish prior to human consumption and noting that this is an emerging fishery in Nunavut and requires support of government to resolve this issue. The Board decided (Resolution 2003- 008) to have a letter written to the three Ministers concerned and CFIA.

6. NWMB Study Funds 2003/04: Review and Approval

Michelle Wheatley briefly reviewed the NWMB funding sources for research with new member, Paul Pemik. Kevin McCormick noted that the Board needs to develop guidelines on IQ to give better direction for future projects. The Board had previously reviewed some Study Fund projects at the April 4 Special Meeting;

• 5201-03-1 Igaluqtuuq Bowhead Habitat Stewardship
• 5264-03-1 Monitoring of Beverly Qamanirjuaq caribou
• 5249-03-1 Inuit Knowledge of Polar Bears

At this time the Board completed the review of the remaining projects

• 5212-03-2 Bowhead Whale Study:
• 5212-03-3 Beluga Sampling:
• 5212-03-1 Survey of Beluga Whales in Cumberland Sound
• 5209-03-1 Polar Bear Traditional Knowledge Study

The Board decided (Resolution 2003- 009) to approve one application (BQCMB), to not approve four applications for funding and to defer two applications until the Board has completed further work on its IQ Fund and guidelines.

7. Request for Additional Funding 0A Turbot Survey

Michelle Wheatley noted that the Board had approved $50K in Nunavut Wildlife Research Trust funding for project 5120-03-4 the OA Turbot Survey at their April meeting. The Board has since been advised that $120K from DFO will not be forthcoming. At a recent meeting of the partners it was felt that DFO should be contributing to this project but that if they won’t, it is still important to ensure this survey continues. It was therefore requested that all the partners increase their funding shares to cover the shortfall of $120K. Kevin McCormick noted that if the Board approves this additional funding it will be setting a precedent and will be faced with this same problem every time we try to do survey work. The Board approved (Resolution 2003- 010) an increase of $25K for the survey.

8. Turbot: OA 2003 Harvest Level Recommendations

Karen Ditz provided some background information on the current quotas of turbot. Karen noted that currently there is a 1000 MT inshore quota for turbot. The Pangnirtung winter fishery has the first call on this quota, any remaining quota is allowed to be transferred and added to the offshore 500MT quota. DFO Science is now thinking it would acceptable to have a stand-alone quota for 500 MT for Cumberland Sound. There was some concern voiced that accepting this allocation may effect the current 1000MT quota that the NWMB is allowed to move offshore if necessary. There was some discussion on the upcoming decision in the Turbot Management Plan to split the OA quota 50/50 with Greenland, the Board felt that Canada should take a stronger stand regarding this issue and call for a bigger share of the quota. Further discussions on these issues are planned for the June NWMB meeting.

9. Shrimp Management Plan: Need for Proper Briefing

The Board was advised that the Shrimp Management Plan was received and commented on by Board Staff. DFO was approached to provide a summary of the proposed plan and to provide a briefing note with items required for NWMB approval and those items that required a Board recommendation. No response was provided for these two requests. There is still a call out for the NWMB to approve the Shrimp Management Plan as presented.

10. Community Based Management Review

The Board was given a quick update on the status of the CBM review proceedings. It was noted that the working group had met and there is a full committee meeting conference call planned for Tuesday, May 21,2003. The plan currently is to provide a briefing note to the Board from the CBM Committee at the Arviat meeting. The Board directed that a letter be written to the Minister identifying the need for appropriate materials to be submitted to the NWMB prior to the Board considering approval of the plan.

Meeting adjourned.

RESOLUTIONS: CONFERENCE CALL No.69

Resolution 2003- 007: Resolved that the NWMB approve the application of Willie Keatainak (Salluit) for 8 walrus sport hunts with the following conditions:

• That these hunts will take place in the Area of Equal Use and Occupancy around Nottingham and Salisbury Islands;
• That the total walrus harvest by the community of Salluit in 2003, should not exceed average harvest by the community in that Area over the last 5 years;
• That assignment be done in writing;
• That the number of landed and struck and lost animals be reported to the NWMB at the time of application next year; and
• That the hunt be conducted according to the hunt plan submitted.

Moved by Robert Moshenko       Seconded by Pauloosie Novalinga

Carried           Date: May 5, 2003

Resolution 2003- 008: Resolved that the NWMB write a letter to appropriate government departments and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) informing these groups of the NWMB concerns regarding testing of bio-toxins and environmental contaminants for Nunavut clam harvesting. Further that the NWMB calls on these organizations to establish interim measures for monitoring this fishery and to take the necessary steps to introduce the Canadian Shellfish Sanitation Program (CSSP) program into Nunavut at the earliest opportunity.

Moved by Kevin McCormick       Seconded by Nick Amautinuar

Carried           Date: May 5, 2003

Resolution 2003- 009: Resolved that the NWMB not approve the three following NWMB Study Fund projects;

• 5212-03-2 Bowhead Whale Study – Pangnirtung
• 5212-03-3 Beluga Sampling and Survey – Pangnirtung
• 5212-03-1 Survey of Beluga Whales in Cumberland Sound – Pangnirtung
• 5249-03-1 Igaliqtuuq Bowhead Habitat Stewardship-Clyde River

and that the following projects be deferred

• 5209-03-1 Polar Bear Traditional Knowledge Study –Taloyoak
• 5264-03-1 Inuit Knowledge of Polar Bears-Kimmirut

and that the following be approved for $17,200.00

• 5264-03-1 Monitoring of Beverly Qamanirjuaq Caribou (BQCMB)

Moved by Nick Amautinuar     Seconded by Kevin McCormick

Carried           Date: 5 May 2003

Resolution 2003- 010: Resolved that the NWMB approve an increase of 25 K for the OA Turbot Survey in addition to the 50K already approved April 3, 2003.

Moved by Kevin McCormick       Seconded by Robert Moshenko

Carried           Date: 5 May 2003