Fisheries scientists are warning that Canada has been expanding its only Arctic fishery without understanding very much about it.
The scientists from Newfoundland's Memorial University say that lack of knowledge could threaten the future of the turbot fishery -- one of the few bright spots in Nunavut's economy.
They say that some vessels are already harvesting too many small fish in violation of federal guidelines.
The value of the turbot fishery has nearly doubled over the last six years to about $65 million.
But the scientists's research suggests even the most basic understanding of the fish stocks just isn't there.
Four companies using both gill nets and trawlers fish for turbot off the east coast of Baffin Island.
