The Save our Char Committee (SOCC) was developed in the fall of 2007 out of concern for the significant decline of arctic char in the Pistolet Bay area. The committee was originally formed in 1982 but had been dormant until committee members observed a large decline in the arctic char stock. Concerned that this small unique population of arctic char could become extinct, they initiated the process of reversing this decline before it was too late.

 

The committee partnered with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO), Nordic Economic Development Corporation (REDB), St. Anthony Basin Resources Inc. (SABRI), Community-University Research for Recovery Alliance (CURRA), MUN and the Department of Natural Resources – Forestry & Wildlife Division to develop a plan to address the committee’s concerns. The 5-Year Strategic Recovery Plan was completed in consultation with all of these groups.

 

DFO, SABRI and the Town of St. Anthony were already working with SOCC to understand the stock numbers and the kind of species of arctic char present at Western Brook. It was understood that they were the only sea-run arctic char on the island of Newfoundland, but more information was needed to determine if they were a unique species. Nordic’s Tourism Sub-Committee also needed additional information in order to address requests to establish tourist interpretative information near Western Brook to highlight these supposedly unique sea-run arctic char.

 

The SOCC intends to carry out is mission over the next 5 years. By 2014, the Save Our Char Committee will have stimulated environmental stewardship through detailed research on fish stocks at Parkers River (Western Brook). This will be accomplished through the promotion of conservation, cooperation and consultation. There are five main goals to be met: Counting Fence, Depth Survey, Heads Collection Program, Underwater Camera and Voluntary Hook and Release Program. The counting fence and underwater camera has been in place since July 2009 with numbers for the past year now released.

 

 

The Nordic Economic Development Board became involved in this initiative through another partnership with SABRI. They felt the REDB could provide valuable assistance in sourcing funding, completing a five-year strategic recovery plan and helping with communications activities. 

 

As a member of the SOCC since 2008, REDB staff members have attended regular meetings to help develop a plan to maintain this species of arctic char at Western Brook. It is part of Nordic’s Strategic Economic Plan to partner with stakeholders such as the SOCC through CURRA and to help the group identify needed research and resources to carry out its mission.

 

Nordic staff has been involved in drafting the five year strategic recovery plan, drafting news releases and feature articles, helping to find funding resources, completing funding proposals, assisting with the implementation of public consultation and awareness via public meetings or via Nordic’s own website. The SOCC webpage can be found on Nordic’s website at www.nedc.nf.ca/SOCC.asp.

 

Nordic is working with all partners to ensure the plan drafted by the SOCC is implemented in a timely manner and that its communications plan creates public awareness of these initiatives. The strategic planning opportunity management process and regular meetings with stakeholders have ensured that all anticipated impacts for the future have been assessed. The implementation of SOCC’s plan may not have happened so quickly without the assistance of Nordic staff. The caliber of partners has also allowed the process to run smoothly.

 

Nordic Economic Development Corporation will continue to work with the SOCC and other municipalities, departments/agencies of both levels of government and the business community to address the issues around the research and potential opportunities for Western Brook. Nordic will continue to work with academic scholars through CURRA, MUN and Dalhousie University to assist the group in getting access to additional research analysis to get a clearer picture for future steps. This initiative is clearly on the right path with other research identified and a continuation of implementing the objectives identified in the five year work plan.

 

 

The Save Our Char Committee has brought various stakeholders together to partner for a common understanding of the arctic char at Western Brook. This may help determine future economic development of the resource in the region and also bring the community together for a common cause. It also helps to engage the community in an environmentally responsible manner through safeguarding a rare species for future generations.

 

Nordic’s vision commitment to carrying out all activities in an environmentally conscious manner is realized in working with this group. The creation of a five year strategic recovery plan will help the SOCC determine the resource they are working with, steps necessary to increase the resource and the social impacts that it will have on the region.

 

While the immediate goal of the Save Our Char Committee is to complete the additional required research in order to preserve the arctic char of Western Brook, the region may benefit from other future developments. Opportunities include a possible arctic char hatchery in the Pistolet Bay area, tourism development in partnership with the St. Anthony & Area Chamber of Commerce for a visitor information centre and arctic char interpretative site. Both natural resource and tourism development would lead to increased business development in the region.