SELECTED THESES ON THE CIRCUMPOLAR ARCTIC

Since 1986, a commercial winter fishery for turbot (Reinhardtius hippoglossoides) has developed in the Inuit community of Pangnirtung, Northwest Territories, Canada. This fishery presents an example of commercial renewable resource development in an Inuit community which has generated jobs and income in the community.
The study attempts to determine direct benefits of the fishery. A cost and earning study of fishermen is also conducted. Opportunity costs of fishermen and plant workers are examined to determine what effect the fishery has on traditional pursuits of participants. Other socioeconomic effects of the fishery are also considered. The commercial fishery development model is examined to evaluate its applicability to future commercial fishery development in Inuit communities.
Data were collected by examination of government and commercial fishing company records, and through interviews with fishermen, plant workers, fishing company managers and directors, and other people involved in the fishery's development.
The study documents the substantial number of fishing jobs and resulting income for residents of Pangnirtung. While the fishing income of processing plant workers and the gross income of fishermen has become large relative to the community personal income, this is overstated since costs of fishing are not considered. The cost and earning study identifies relatively high costs of fishing and hence a low net income from fishing, which questions the high participation in the fishery. The fishery does not appear to have a negative effect on traditional pursuits of participants. In fact, evidence suggests the fishery may support the traditional economy of subsistence hunting and fishing through provision of cash to hunters and through cost-sharing of snowmobiles.
A warning is issued to fishery participants and managers to be aware of turbot stock reductions and over-fishing caused by the fishery. Regulations to limit entry into the fishery and to place a restriction on gear are recommended to introduce controls to fishing effort.
Lessons learned during the development process are reviewed. Local ownership and control of the commercial fishing company is identified as a critical component in community economic development. A cooperative type of business might have served the mandate of the community better, rather than the private limited companies which have been established. Board size was considered to be too large as it included unnecessary representatives."