The following are programs and activities in which the Fisheries and Sealing Division is involved.
For more information on Sealing in Nunavut, visit www.sealingnunavut.ca
This program helps commercial fishers and harvesters compete with southern industries by subsidizing the cost of transporting their products to markets outside of Nunavut. Up to 50% of freight costs may be covered for fish products between communities in Nunavut, as well as for arctic char from a shipping community to its respective southern gateway city. Because this program focuses on lessening the financial strain for commercial fishers to sell in southern markets, assistance is not provided for freighting fish from the harvest site to a community for processing and/or trans-shipment, or for private consumption (i.e. not for sale) within or outside of Nunavut.
This program provides financial assistance for projects that strengthen, develop, and diversify Nunavut's fishing industry. It supports research and development initiatives that will provide long-term, industry-wide benefit, and that contribute to businesses, organizations, and individuals with viable fisheries development and diversification initiatives.
This program is a government service that helps harvesters market and sell their furs at competitive prices. The sealskin purchasing component is the largest part of this program which was established to help revitalize Nunavut's sealing industry and put cash in the hands of harvesters after market collapses in the early 1980s. The program provides security to harvesters by paying them an upfront, guaranteed price for skins. It also encourages the full use of skins available from the traditional food hunt.
The Nunavut Fisheries Training Consortium is a major long-term training initiative that assists the Inuit of Nunavut obtain maximum employment and economic benefits from the development of a Nunavut based fishing industry. Students are prepared for various opportunities, including Small Vessel Operator, Marine Diesel Mechanic, Fisheries Observer, Bookkeeper, Bridgewatch, Cook, Quality Control Officer, and Deckhand (introductory Pre-Sea Course). Programs may enable graduates to work in other marine related occupations and develop inshore fisheries in their own communities.
This program assists Nunavut garment and apparel designers by making prepared (tanned) Nunavut ring seal skins available through the Fur Harvest Auction House in North Bay. This service is exclusively for Nunavut producers, not retailers, so the costs are kept as low as possible. Aside from a 10% mark-up (which will not increase), there are no additional production charges or labour costs on the skins. Postal charges are covered by the Government of Nunavut. Prices may vary occasionally, depending on the cost of the skins at the auction and the cost of dressing. Also part of this program is helping to maintain an adequate inventory and supply of prepared skins for distribution in Nunavut for value-added processing and use.
Through a yearly donation, the Government of Nunavut is a member of the Fur Institute of Canada, the mission of which is to promote the sustainable and wise use of Canada's fur resources. As part of the sealing committee, representatives bring a Nunavut and Inuit perspective to the table.