Joint Ministerial Statement by the Honourable Keith Ashfield, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, and the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Member of Parliament for Nunavut and Minister of the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency (CanNor)

May 11, 2013

Ottawa, Ontario - “Our government is pleased to announce today the finalization of an Integrated Fisheries Management Plan for Narwhal.

The plan was developed as a cooperative effort between Fisheries and Oceans Canada, the Nunavut Wildlife Management Board, Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated and Nunavummiut. The Plan will promote the sustainable harvest and trade of narwhal while ensuring the rights of Inuit are protected.

The final decision of this plan that was accepted yesterday has established an overall harvest limit for Northern Hudson Bay narwhal. The total narwhal harvest limit will be allocated separately between Nunavut and Nunavik. Similar efforts are undertaken to develop a narwhal harvest plan with Nunavik co-management partners.

This agreement represents the great collaboration and partnerships among the Government of Canada and Inuit.

Next week Canada assumes the Chairmanship of the Arctic Council, with the theme of Development for the People of the North. We are very pleased with this agreement, which continues to foster sustainable harvesting in the North.”

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For more information:

Barbara Mottram
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
613-992-3474

Cailin Rodgers
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister
Health Canada and the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency (CanNor)
613-957-0200