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This document sets out the organization's concerns about potentially unsustainable fish harvesting practices in Davis Strait and Baffin Bay.
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ARCTIC FISHERY ALLIANCE L.P.
Background Information on
AFA Conservation Concerns
Regarding the Harvest of
Small Immature Turbot
Iqaluit, Nunavut
November, 2012
AFA Conservation Concerns
AFA is deeply concerned about the sustainability of the Greenland halibut resource in
the waters adjacent to Nunavut. Because of its role of making recommendations to the
Federal Minister of Fisheries and Oceans on the management and allocation of
Nunavut quotas the NWMB should be aware of and acting upon issues related to the
long term health of these important fish stocks.
Since AFA's initial entry into the commercial fishery, its predecessor quota holder
Nattivak HTA has been concerned about the large amount of small immature turbot
being harvested by mobile trawl gear vessels. It was this concern that in part led to its
withdrawal from BFC and ended its relationship with Clearwater as they primarily
employ trawl gear to harvest northern turbot. Nattivak came to the conclusion that this
was a serious conservation issue and hence decided to harvest its quotas whenever
possible with fixed gear vessels. It is for this reason that AFA decided when purchasing
our own vessel to purchase a gillnet/longline vessel as it is much more selective in
catching larger more mature fish.
Of the four Nunavut quota holders, AFA is the only enterprise that is exclusively
dependent on the turbot fishery for its income in Nunavut waters and as a consequence
its Inuit owners wish to ensure the turbot resource is sustainably managed and
harvested. AFA does not believe this is the case now as well over 50% of the subarea 0
turbot resource is caught by trawlers as shown on the attached graph.
Furthermore, DFO have expressed concerns in the 2006-2008 Greenland Halibut
Fishery Management Plan for NAFO Subarea 0 as they note that one of its main
objectives is to minimize the harvest of small fish. It states in the plan that "In order to
address concerns regarding small fish in Division 0A, the overall total allowable catch in
Division 0A will remain conservative and the use of long-line vessels will be encouraged
....." Yet DFO have not taken any meaningful steps to reduce the catch of small fish.
When one considers this situation it should not be surprising that NAFO scientists are
not recommending an increase in the Division 0A TAC.
When AFA was being consulted on the NWMB's Allocation Policy for Commercial
Marine Fisheries it was made very clear to all quota holders that we were expected to
meet NWMB's Requirements for Responsible Stewardship as "The conservation of
Nunavut's fisheries resources and habitat is NWMB's chief fisheries management
priority." Furthermore, the compliance with responsible fishing practices and gear use
guideline states in part "Each allocation holder must use fishing gear that minimizes
......the harvest of juvenile fish." AFA has not seen any concrete steps taken by NWMB
to deal with this issue.
As a quota holder that is using exclusively fixed gear we feel it is important to bring to
the attention of NWMB these important conservation concerns. AFA has requested that
NWMB address this issue now to ensure the sustainability of Nunavut's turbot
resources. AFA's Inuit owners can not rest until this matter is satisfactorily addressed
and appropriate management measures enacted.