Boat with cracked hull off for repairs; Conflict Avoidance

Temporarily patched, Edward's boat is carried back to the water for the 14 mile trip to West Dock, where it will be taken to the Nanuq shop and welded. In the early 1980's, when the oil industry moved offshore and began the exploration that led to the Northstar development on a five acre artificial island built 12 miles west of here, the Cross Island hunt was badly disrupted. Helicopters flew all over the place and industry vessels and barges plied the waters as whales migrated and hunters hunted. In one season of noise and commotion, the Nuiqsut whalers landed no bowheads at all. They protested mightily. With the support of the Alaska Eskimo Whaling Commission and the involvement of the federal government, they persuaded the oil companies operating in the area to enter into a Conflict Avoidance Agreement with them requiring industry to cease all marine and helicopter traffic in the area during the hunting season. Twice since I have been here, industry interests have relayed radio requests to the whalers seeking permission to send a barge or vessel here or there, promising minimal disruption. Both times, the whalers refused. Industry complied. The only vessels on the water have been the whaler's boats and the barge that brought this loader and other support items and supplies to the island. In recognition of the fact that whoever holds title and leases out here, this is the traditional home of the Iñupiat and everything industry does here impacts them, the CAA includes mitigation funds requiring industry to fund certain physical support - such as this loader, which has many uses.