Terms of Reference

National Marine Mammal Peer-Review Meeting: Cumberland Sound Beluga

National Peer Review - National Capital Region

April 6, April 20, and May 10, 2016
By teleconference

Chairperson: Garry Stenson

Cumberland Sound Beluga (CSB) - population abundance estimate and sustainable harvest level recommendations

Context

In 2004, the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) recommended that 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) will 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 based on the recommendations contained in DFO (2013). The first, an aerial survey estimate of CSB abundance in 2014, was completed by the National Marine Mammal Peer Review Committee during its October 2015 meeting.  The second was to develop a population model that incorporates 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.

Objective

To complete a population model incorporating 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., TALC) for this population.

Expected Publications

• Science Advisory Report
• Research Documents
• Proceedings

Participation

• Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) (Ecosystems and Oceans Science, Ecosystems and Fisheries Management, Species at Risk)
• Institute of Marine Resources (IMR), Norway
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
• Nunavut Wildlife Management Board
• Nunavik Marine Region Wildlife Board
• Makivik Corporation
• Nunavut Tunngavik Inc.

References

DFO. 2013. Advice on size and trend of the Cumberland Sound beluga whale population, 1990 to 2009. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Advis. Rep. 2013/003.