Science Advisory Report 2009/076
Stock assessment of Northern Quebec (Nunavik) Beluga (Delphinapterus leucas)
Summary
- The current population size is estimated at about 3,300 animals and is likely stable.
- The impact of harvesting on the EHB beluga whale population is the sum of animals killed in EHB, plus the EHB animals taken during spring/summer and fall in the Sanikiluaq and Hudson Strait hunts.
- At the time this advice was developed only 38 EHB belugas had been removed from the population but the hunting season was not complete. In this case a reported harvest of 55 whales would have a 0.50 probability of causing a decline in the population. If the 2009 TAT is taken in full, then a harvest exceeding 50 animals in 2010 would have a 0.5 probability of causing decline in the EHB population.
- However, harvest levels should be reduced further in 2010 if the population is to be allowed to recover. Reducing harvests to 15 EHB animals would have only a 0.30-0.35 probability of causing the population to decline depending on overall harvests in 2009. Harvests at these levels would more likely result in population growth.
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