Pangnirtung hunters take to the water for beluga season

PANGNIRTUNG — With the sea ice melted and beluga whale sightings radioed in from the water, families set out on long-awaited beluga hunts over the weekend.

Once Saturday came around, families lined up at the gas station to stock up on fuel for a weekend out on the water and loaded supplies onto their boats before setting out, leaving the docks nearly empty.

Many returned with their catches on Sunday afternoon, unloading seals and beluga and caribou meat off their boats.

Fourteen-year-old Joseph Kilabuk and his best friend Duvan Duval harvested beluga and caribou while out on the water, said David Nakashuk, Joseph’s father.

Pangnirtung’s Duvan Duval is seen here with his beluga catch over the weekend. (Photo courtesy of David Nakashuk)

This was the first weekend out on the water together for the family this season.

Others got a head start before the weekend rolled around.

Although communities’ beluga hunting quotas — 41 for Pangnirtung this year — renew in April, July 1 is typically the first big day for it, explained Noah Mosesee.

Mosesee was on the water with his family for about five days, from June 27 until Friday, logging 390 kilometres round-trip with six people on the boat, he said.

Early on June 28, a hunter called back to Pangnirtung from the water by radio to say belugas had been sighted and other hunters joined.

When that call comes in, hunters drop what they’re doing or take time off work to join the hunt, Mosesee said.

“Before the quota is reached, everybody wants to get one,” he said.

The docks in Pangnirtung were nearly empty over the weekend with beluga season in full swing. (Photo by Mélanie Ritchot)

“I can’t even say how many boats, there were so many.”

His son caught one, which can provide enough beluga meat for a family for a year, Mosesee said.

The beluga hunt will continue until the quota is reached, and next weekend, Mosesee said he and other hunters will set out to harvest walrus.