Federal fisheries officials will be touring several Nunavut communities in the new year due to concerns about the Atlantic walrus population.

The Department of Fisheries and Oceans will visit 11 communities to see what coastal Inuit have to say about the current state of the walrus population.

In May, the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada recommended Atlantic walrus be listed as a species of special concern.

There is concern walrus populations are not as healthy as they should be.
(CBC News)

Paul Irngaut, Nunavut Tunngavik Inc.'s wildlife adviser, said Wednesday in Iqaluit his organization will be watching the process closely.

"It's not like in the past anymore where they just used to arbitrarily make rules and laws about species which affected Inuit," Irngaut said during the group;s annual general meeting.

"Inuit have to be consulted and we will make sure they are consulted thoroughly."

The endangered wildlife committee says it's concerned population studies on the walrus have not been detailed enough. It also thinks the animal may be overhunted.

If the federal government approves the designation, it will not stop Inuit hunting walrus but it might pave the way for restrictions, Irngaut said.

 The tour, which begins Jan. 8, includes stops in Rankin Inlet, Hall Beach, Sanikiluaq, Igloolik, Repulse Bay, Grise Fiord, Coral Harbour, Cape Dorset, Iqaluit, Pangnirtung and Qikiqtarjuaq.