Research Document 2023/015

Ulukhaktok, Northwest Territories coastal Arctic Char (Salvelinus alpinus) subsistence (1993–1997 and 2011–2015) and commercial (2010–2015) fisheries: Catch-per-unit-effort and biological sampling

By Lea, E.V., Gallagher, C.P., Carder, G.M., Matari, K.G.A., and Harwood, L.A.

Abstract

The summer coastal Arctic Char (Salvelinus alpinus) fishery is an important cultural, subsistence, and commercial resource for the community of Ulukhaktok in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region, Northwest Territories. Anadromous Arctic Char are caught while they are feeding along the coast during summer, generally early-July to late-August. A community-based harvest monitoring program was conducted during 1993–1997 and 2011–2015 to collect catch-per-unit-effort (CPUE) and biological data from the coastal subsistence fishery. The community has also conducted a small-scale Arctic Char commercial fishery, licensed as a Stage 1 Exploratory Fishery with catch and biological data reporting requirements. Median CPUE in the subsistence fishery ranged from 19.2 to 32.8 Arctic Char/100 m net/24 h, with no trends over time in either sampling period or overall. There was an increase in the length and weight of Arctic Char harvested in the coastal fishery between sampling periods, with the majority of fish between 500 mm and 650 mm, and 1,500 g to 3,000 g in 1993–1997, and between 550 mm and 800 mm and 2,500 g and 5,000 g in 2011–2015. The majority of Arctic Char harvested in the subsistence fishery were between 8 and 13 years. Annual mortality during 2011 to 2015 was relatively stable at a low level (0.17–0.3). In addition to changes in size, there was evidence of increases in growth rate (length-at-age) between 1993–1997 and 2011–2015. Biological data collected from the commercial fishery were similar to those collected from the subsistence fishery although the commercial catch was comprised of a higher proportion of large (≥ 700 mm) fish which is expected given some differences in gear types. The available information suggests that the populations contributing to the coastal summer fishery are sustainable at present harvest levels. The collection of biological and CPUE data from subsistence and commercial fisheries continues to be a priority for the Ulukhaktok Char Working Group, to support their use of adaptive co-management and enable the sustainable management of their Arctic Char fisheries. Continued monitoring and research, that include both Indigenous Knowledge and scientific methods are required to better understand, characterize, and assess the stocks that contribute to this mixed-stock coastal fishery.

Research Document 2023/015 (PDF, 11,004 KB)

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