Beluga hunt ends early in Nunavik’s Ungava Bay

Beluga hunters in Nunavik will have to wait until next year to land more belugas from Ungava Bay because they have already reached their total allowable take for 2011.

As of Aug. 3, communities along the western coast Ungava Bay had taken their 2011 quota of 10 belugas – from a total of 315 belugas for all Nunavik hunters this season.

That ended the season in Ungava Bay nearly a month before its previously announced closing date of Aug.31.

A Department of Fisheries notice to hunters, sent out June 23, spelled out the quotas for the Eastern Hudson Bay, Ungava Bay, Long Island and James Bay areas for 2011.

From June 24 to Nov. 30, hunters can take nine belugas from the Eastern Hudson Bay — down from 21 in 2010, and 31 from Long Island and James Bay — up from 21 in 2010.

From June 24 to Aug. 31, hunters could take 10 belugas from Ungava Bay.

Hunters can take up to 190 belugas from the Hudson Strait, which opened June 1 and lasts until Aug. 31. Of these, 137 still remain, according to DFO statistics.

And the fall hunt will see an additional quota of 75 for the Hudson Strait — up from 46 last year.

The Nottingham Islands, Ottawa Islands, Mucalic, Nastapoka and Little Whale River estuary remain closed to all beluga hunting.

Quotas for Nunavik’s beluga hunt are based on recommendations by the Nunavik Marine Region Wildlife Board, who consult with local hunters and trappers associations.

Board members, appointed by Makivik Corp. and the governments of Nunavut and Canada, help establish quotas as well as wildlife management zones and designations for endangered species.

The board’s recommendations are then approved in Ottawa.

For 2011, the areas around the Nottingham, Salisbury and Ottawa islands remained closed as well as the Mucalic, Nastapoka and Little Whale River estuaries.