The Beaufort Sea Conference 2000 on the Renewable Marine Resources of the Canadian Beaufort Sea

Abstract

The Beaufort Sea Conference 2000, held in Inuvik, Northwest Territories, in September 1999, had three objectives: to review our current understanding of the renewable aquatic resources of the Beaufort Sea; to review the factors that affect those resources; and to develop a vision that will guide management of those resources for the benefit of present and future generations. To achieve these objectives, the conference brought together representatives of the full range of groups interested in the renewable resources of the Beaufort Sea. These included hunters and fishers, other resource users, scientists, government managers, educators, students, and the public. The conference was structured to encourage interaction between participants so that they could jointly discuss opportunities for the future. ... This special issue of the journal "Arctic" presents the formal scientific papers on each resource species or group and the presentation by Inuvialuit elder Billy Day. The paragraphs below summarize the conference discussions under the four themes, as well as the discussions of the youth delegation. The Canadian Beaufort Sea region pioneered and put into practice the theory of co-management in the Canadian Arctic, beginning with the signing of the Inuvialuit Final Agreement in 1984 and the Gwich'in Final Agreement eight years later. Workshop discussions considering the role of co-management of renewable resources in this region focused on the following challenges for the future: Community engagement .... Youth and elders .... Communication .... Good governance .... Research .... Traditional ecological knowledge .... Chaos and innovation ....