Proceedings 2016/050

Proceedings of the National Marine Mammal Peer-Review Meeting: Cumberland Sound Beluga, April 6, April 20, May 10, 2016

Chairperson: Garry Stenson
Editor: Christine Abraham

Summary

In 2004, the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) recommended that Cumberland Sound Beluga (CSB)be designated as “Threatened” under the Species at Risk Act (SARA). Continued research and monitoring of this beluga population is required to ensure sustainability of the Inuit subsistence harvest. Fisheries Management and its Nunavut co-management partners are developing an Integrated Fisheries Management Plan (IFMP) with the community of Pangnirtung. An aerial survey of Cumberland Sound beluga was conducted in summer 2014. Based upon this survey, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) was asked to provide Science Advice that can be considered by the Nunavut Wildlife Management Board (NWMB) to evaluate the sustainability of the current quota, and the level of Total Allowable Harvest (TAH) and Basic Needs Level (BNL) to be established for this beluga population.

There were two components to the original request.  First, an aerial survey estimate of CSB abundance in 2014 was reviewed by the National Marine Mammal Peer Review Committee during its October 2015 meeting. The second component was to develop a population model that incorporated the 2014 and previous aerial survey results, and if appropriate, provide advice on an updated population abundance estimate and recommend sustainable harvest levels (i.e., total allowable landed catch [TALC]) for this population. These proceedings report on the review of this second component.

In addition to these Proceedings, one Research Document and one Science Advisory Report will be published as a result of the meeting.

The review was held via three teleconferences (April 6, April 20, and May 10, 2016).  The participants invited to this meeting included individuals from DFO (Ecosystems and Oceans Science, Ecosystems and Fisheries Management), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Nunavut Wildlife Management Board, Nunavik Marine Region Wildlife Board, Makivik Corporation, and Nunavut Tunngavik Inc.

Complete document (PDF, 126 KB)

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