Research Document - 2001/025
Beluga in Northern Quebec: Impact of harvesting on population trends of beluga in eastern Hudson Bay
By Hammill, M. O.
Abstract
A five-year management plan implemented in 1995 limited beluga harvests to 90 animals by hunters from eastern Hudson Bay communities, 100 beluga by communities in Hudson Strait and 50 animals by communities in Ungava Bay as long as harvesting occurs outside of the bay. However, throughout the plan harvesting by Hudson Strait and Hudson Bay communities consistently exceeded the quota. Modelling changes in population size suggest that the eastern Hudson Bay population has declined markedly during the past 5 years, possibly to as low as 1,100 (SE=500) animals. If current harvest levels continue then the lower 95% confidence limit suggests that this population could be extirpated as early as 2003. A reduction in harvests to 40 animals would be sustainable. A harvest of 20 animals would likely allow the herd to increase at a rate of 2% per year. However, there is considerable uncertainty associated with modelling estimates owing to a lack of population survey information, uncertainty associated with beluga population parameters, stock composition of beluga harvests in Hudson Strait, the proportion of animals visible at the surface during aerial surveys and under-reporting of harvests.
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