Terms of Reference

Qasigiyat Arctic Char Assessment

Central and Arctic Regional Advisory Meeting

January 10-11, 2011
Iqaluit, Nunavut

Chairperson: Ross Tallman

Context

The Ptarmigan (Qasigiyat) Fiord is one of several waterbodies in the Cumberland Sound area that is presently fished for Arctic Char (Salvelinus alpinus) under a stage II exploratory fishing licence.  Historically, Qasigiyat was fished in the winter months (January to March), in the lake.  Presently, Qasigiyat is being fished in the Fiord during the late summer months (late July to August).  The objective of fishing under a stage II exploratory licence is to determine whether a population can sustain a commercially viable operation. An analysis of biological (age, length and weights) and catch and effort data allows Science to assess the status of Arctic Char population’s vulnerability to exploitation at present exploratory harvests rates, and advise on converting an exploratory fishery to a commercial fishery. Such data also provides a reliable baseline for future fisheries stock assessments. Biological and catch and effort data are requested as a licence condition for exploratory fisheries following the five-year exploratory fishery protocol. For some waterbodies, these types of data are also collected through Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) Science's stock assessment research program as fishery independent sampling. This is the case in the Qasigiyat system. Fisheries and Aquaculture Management (FAM) Sector of DFO has requested that Science provide an updated summary of information collected from Cumberland Sound Arctic Char stocks. This Regional Advisory Process (RAP) will provide an update on the status of Qasigiyat Arctic Char and recommend a long-term plan for this fishery.

Objectives

The following objectives will be addressed:

• Assess and report on the current status of Qasigiyat Arctic Char, including a review of all new information;
• Highlight sources of uncertainty in the assessment;
• Provide advice on a total sustainable harvest level for Qasigiyat Arctic Char;
• Develop a monitoring plan to assess the long-term sustainability of the fishery (e.g. identify information needs, timeframes, and monitoring protocols.

Expected Publications

A Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat (CSAS) Research Document will be produced from the working paper presented and reviewed at the meeting. The advice from the meeting will be published as a Science Advisory Report. Finally, a proceedings report summarizing the deliberations of the participants will be published in the CSAS Proceedings Series.

Participation

Experts or knowledge holders from Pangnirtung fish harvesters, Pangnirtung Hunters and Trappers Organization (HTO), Government of Nunavut (Fisheries and Sealing), Pangnirtung Fisheries Ltd., DFO Science and Fisheries Management and the University of Manitoba will be invited to participate in this advisory meeting.