Baffin Fisheries chooses new board, new chair

The five hunter and trapper associations that own Baffin Fisheries chose a new board and a new chair earlier this week, the organization said in a news release on March 6.

At a meeting held on March 3, the Inuit-owned fishing company elected David Alexander of the Amaruq Hunters and Trappers Association of Iqaluit to serve as its new chair.

Alexander, a former Iqaluit city councillor, replaces Johnny Mike of Pangnirtung, who has served in that position for the past year.

“I would like to thank previous chair Johnny Mike for his contribution over the past year. I look forward to continuing to move Baffin Fisheries in a positive direction,” Alexander said in a news release.

“We plan to hold several community visits this year to ensure all shareholders have an active voice in corporate development and community investments.”

At the same time, Baffin Fisheries confirmed or elected the following board members:

• Leo Maktar: Mittimatalik HTA, Pond Inlet, vice-chair
• Mikidjuk Kolola: Mayukalik HTA, Kimmirut, secretary
• Billy Etooangat: Pangnirtung HTA, chair, finance committee
• Maliktoo Lyta: Mayukalik HTA, Kimmirut
• Eric Ootoovak: Mittimatalik HTA, Pond Inlet
• Roger Etuangat: Nangmautaq HTA, Clyde River
• Noah Alookie: Amaruq HTA, Iqaluit
• Kelly Karpik: Pangnirtung HTA.
• Joamie Apak: Nangmautaq HTA, Clyde River

Baffin Fisheries harvests turbot, also known as Greenland halibut, as well as shrimp, from the waters of Davis Strait and Baffin Bay and owns two factory-freezer trawlers and two factory-freezer fixed-gear fishing vessels.

This past December, the company won a $544,000 judgment from its former CEO, Garth Reid, after a Newfoundland judge found that Reid had diverted Baffin Fisheries funds to construct a lavish mansion and guest house overlooking Trinity Bay in Winterton, Newfoundland.