Nunavik’s Hudson Strait closed to beluga hunting

The beluga hunting season in Nunavik’s Hudson Strait is now closed, the DFO said Nov. 6. (FILE PHOTO)

The Hudson Strait is now closed to beluga hunters in Nunavik, the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans said in a Nov. 6 release.

Hunters from around the region met and exceeded their quota for the hunt after bringing in a total of 86 belugas.

The fall hunting season in Hudson Strait opened Sept. 1 with a quota set at 71 — 15 whales more than 2012’s quota of 56.

The allocation of the number of belugas that can be hunted by each Nunavik community is set by the Nunavik Marine Region Wildlife Board.

This year, Hudson Strait communities had to practice restraint as many were only allocated five whales each, because they had hunted over their quotas in 2012.

Hunters in Quaqtaq weren’t allocated any belugas this year, after surpassing their assigned quota last year and seeing beluga seized by the DFO.

The Hudson Strait closure puts an end to most of Nunavik’s fall beluga hunt, since Ungava Bay and Eastern Hudson Bay were already closed to harvesting.

The only areas that remain open are farther south towards Long Island and James Bay. They will stay open until Nov. 30 or until the quota of 31 belugas is reached, said the DFO.

Areas around Nottingham and Salisbury Islands, the Ottawa Islands and the Mucalic, Nastapoka and Little Whale River Estuaries are closed to the beluga hunt at all times, the DFO noted.