The Nunavut Fisheries Association and eDNAtec form a research alliance:
Integrating Indigenous Knowledge with eDNA

ST-JOHN’S, NL, May 10, 2022 /CNW/ – There are significant gaps in knowledge about from Canada biodiversity in the North, including Inuit Nunangat. Traditional environmental programs have been limited due to harsh and remote arctic conditions.

The Nunavut Fisheries Association (NFA) and environmental genomics specialists, eDNAtec, have partnered, through a memorandum of understanding, to fill this knowledge gap, developing their from Canada Ocean Supercluster Project, OceanDNA System™.

“We are building capacity in using environmental DNA (eDNA) water sampling techniques on our commercial and research vessels,” said NFA Executive Director, Brian Burk. “This research, which takes place under the harsh conditions of from Canada Eastern Arctic, is incorporated into the NFA’s annual fisheries research and monitoring programs to improve understanding of the marine environment and management of fisheries resources.

According to the CEO of eDNAtec, Steve Barrette, eDNA sampling can be easily performed by non-scientists in remote communities and is safer, faster and cheaper than ever. “This technology also aligns with the Inuit philosophy that ecosystems should be viewed as a whole rather than by individual species,” he added. “By improving ecosystem knowledge, northern communities can become more involved in managing the environmental stewardship of their coasts, such as marine protected areas (MPAs).

“We are integrating indigenous knowledge with eDNA to improve stock management, invasive species detection and biodiversity assessments,” Burke said. “This will build on our existing research and is not only important for NFA’s offshore fishery, but also to assess inshore fishery potential for communities in the Qikiqtani region and Inuit Nunangat.”

IN REGARDS TO NUNAVUT FISHERIES ASSOCIATION: The Nunavut Fisheries Association (NFA) is a not-for-profit organization established to provide a unified voice for the industry to from Nunavut Fishing industry. The NFA represents four Inuit-owned quota holders, including the Arctic Fishery Alliance, Baffin Fisheries, Qikiqtaaluk Corporation and Pangnirtung Fisheries/Cumberland Sound Fisheries Partnership.

ABOUT eDNAtec: eDNAtec are specialists in environmental genomics – we are transforming the way ecosystems are assessed, monitored and characterized through DNA sequencing, which improves the environmental management of our planet’s marine and terrestrial biodiversity. eDNAtec works closely with global ocean industries, including energy, fisheries and the government of the Canada. www.ednatec.com.

SOURCE eDNAtec Inc.

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