Science Advisory Report 2010/060

Stock Assessment of Arctic Char, Salvelinus alpinus, from the Isuituq System, Nunavut

Summary

• Anadromous Arctic Char are common in many river systems of Cumberland Sound, NT. It is presently unknown if individual Cumberland Sound river systems represent genetically discrete stocks or if there is a high degree of migration (gene flow) between systems.
• The Isuituq River is one such Cumberland Sound system that is inhabited by anadromous Arctic Char and these fish are an important local resource for residents of Pangnirtung, Nunavut.
• The fishery for Isuituq Arctic Char is primarily an open-water gill-net fishery, at the mouth of the river in nearshore areas of Clearwater Fiord. It is likely that this fishery is harvesting Arctic Char from several distinct stocks. There currently is an exploratory quota of 2500kg for the area.
• An assessment of length, weight, age and catch and effort data was conducted to assess the resilience of Isuituq Arctic Char to the current levels of harvest.
• The lack of negative trends in length, weight, age and catch and effort data indicate that the current harvest level is likely sustainable.
• There is a low to moderate risks of over-harvest Arctic Char in this system if the current rates of harvest continue.
• Age data should be interpreted cautiously given age reading discrepancies and in regards to a future assessment, the re-ageing of this benchmark data should be considered.
• Initiatives to resolve the genetic population structure of Arctic Char in this system should be pursued. This will also include determining how many other putative stocks are being harvested and to what extent (i.e., mixed-stock fishery analysis).

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