DFO closes Hudson Strait to Nunavik beluga hunters
Season ends early as hunters top quota of 75
The DFO closed the Hudson Strait to Nunavik beluga hunters on Nov. 10. (FILE PHOTO)
Nunavik beluga hunters can’t hunt anymore in the Hudson Strait, the federal department of Fisheries and Oceans said Nov. 10.
From Sept. 1 to Nov. 30, Nunavik hunters could take up to 75 belugas from the Hudson Strait as part of the fall beluga hunting season.
The fall quota varied from five to 12 belugas per Nunavik community, except for Umiujaq and Kujjuaraapik where hunters were supposed to look south for their belugas, to Long Island and the James Bay region.
Statistics on the DFO website show a total take of 76 belugas.
But several communities landed only one beluga, while Quaqtaq, Kangiqsujuaq and Puvirnituq accounted for 41 of the belugas from the quota of 75.
The Long Island and James Bay region remain open to beluga hunting, with a remaining quota of 25 out of 31.
The Eastern Hudson Bay and Ungava Bay closed in early August to beluga hunting, after hunters there went slightly over their summer quota.
The Nottingham, Salisbury and Ottawa islands and the Mucalic, Nastapoka and Little Whale River estuaries have remained closed all through the 2011 season.
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