Development and implementation of a community-based fishery monitoring programme and stock assessment framework for Arctic Char in Baffin Region, Nunavut (NGMP ID EC03)

The purpose of this project is to develop and implement a community-based fishery monitoring program and stock assessment framework for Arctic Char in partnership with the Pangnirtung community/HTA. The project consists in the identification of indicator stock(s) for Arctic Char in the Cumberland Sound Area. The indicator stock(s) will be the focus of annual sampling and monitoring efforts during five consecutive years, including: (i) a test fishery program with progressive increase in harvest; (ii) biological sampling of fish; (iii) harvest monitoring; and (iv) monitoring of selected environmental parameters related to Arctic Char movement, habitat and fishery productivity. The project involves a platform for IQ gathering and synthesis and for knowledge co-production on Arctic Char and freshwater ecosystems from Cumberland Sound. Expected outputs include significant data development on Arctic Char, information gap-filling on the responses of Char populations to fishing pressure and selected environmental drivers, and the provision of integrated IQ-science advice for fisheries co-management of the species. Community involvement and participation is at the core of this project, which is designed to stimulate and enhance local capacity for data collection and knowledge gathering and to integrate traditional practices with scientific expertise. Long-term goals are to demonstrate the effectiveness of community-based monitoring and knowledge co-production for realizing conservation and simultaneous optimization of Arctic Char resources in Nunavut and for fostering community involvement in stock assessment and decision-making processes. The implementation and fine-tuning of a community-based fishery monitoring program/stock assessment framework for Arctic Char in Pangnirtung should facilitate future expansions to other Baffin Island communities, which is the intended scope of the project.