History buffs have been fascinated over the years with the disappearance of Sir John Franklin's ships, the Erebus and Terror, in the Northwest Passage more than 160 years ago. (CBC)

The Nunavut government has come under fire for denying an archeological permit to a privately-funded group that wants to search for Sir John Franklin's missing ships in the High Arctic.

Members of the Finding Franklin Expedition said the reasons they were denied a Class 1 archeological permit by the territorial government do not make sense.

"It's extremely important, I think, on a global scale to Canada, to Great Britain, that the wrecks be found," Rob Field, one of the lead archeologists in the expedition group, told CBC News.

"I honestly do not know why it is so difficult to obtain permission to simply look for these wrecks."

The government denied the group a permit this summer to search for the ships, HMS Erebus and HMS Terror, which disappeared more than 160 years ago.

The English explorer made three expeditions to the Arctic, disappearing on his third voyage in search of the Northwest Passage.

Lack of experience, consultation cited

Nunavut government archeologist Julie Ross told CBC News earlier this month that a permit was denied to the Finding Franklin group in part because its members lacked underwater archeological experience in the Arctic, and in part because the group did not consult with Inuit living in the area.

But Field said he took part in a previous search for Franklin's ships, plus both he and fellow team member Rob Rondeau have participated in underwater projects before.

"So between us, there's 20 years apiece of underwater archeological experience," Field said.

As for the claim that the group did not consult with Inuit, Field said members were in contact with some people in the community of Taloyoak, where the group spent some time earlier this month.

Field said officials with the Kitikmeot Inuit Association put the team "in touch with a couple of local guides who we were going to be employing on the expedition itself."

Threatened legal action

While the team was in Taloyoak, the territorial Justice Department sent a letter threatening criminal charges if members of the group went ahead with a search for the Erebus and Terror without the necessary permit.

Last week, Rondeau's Alberta-based company, ProCom Diving Services, sent a letter of complaint to Ross, accusing her of making untrue statements to the media about the Finding Franklin Expedition.

The letter also stated that the matter has been referred to ProCom's lawyer for possible legal action.

But Field said he would like to discuss the matter with Ross "and see if we can straighten this out as colleagues, as professionals."

Some members of the Finding Franklin Expedition told CBC News they fear the Nunavut government is blocking their search on behalf of the federal government, which is sponsoring its own expedition for the Erebus and Terror in the Northwest Passage.

But Field said his team wants to look for the wrecked ships on a completely different part of the Arctic waterway.