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NUNAVUT
Sanikiluaq hunters will share their polar bear quota with Nunavik after an agreement between Nunavut and Nunavik has been struck to impose a voluntary, and temporary, cap of 60 bears per year.

Nunavut and Nunavik will share a voluntary, temporary polar bear harvest quota of 60 per year, Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. announced on Sept. 26. - NNSL file photo

The agreement was announced by Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. on Sept. 26.

NTI, and Quebec-based Inuit beneficiary group Makivik Corp. and others decided to limit the polar bear harvest in the South Hudson Bay population following a meeting in Inukjuak, Nunavik, last month. Prior to the decision, Nunavut had set a quota of 25 bears on the management zone. The new quota is in place for the 2011-12 hunting season.

The limit was proposed by Environment Canada and the governments of Nunavut, Quebec and Ontario, and the beneficiary corporations met to hammer out an agreement.

NTI vice-president James Eetoolook called the meeting to discuss the management of the South Hudson Bay polar bear population both positive and productive.

"I'm pretty sure this will be agreed to. We need to conserve the population of southern Hudson Bay," he said. "We are conservative people and the hope is the population (is) increasing rather than declining. Of course, we have to be concerned about it."

The price of a polar bear hide and the sustainability of the population were concerns raised, he added.

The long-term goal is to develop a management plan involving Inuit, Cree, wildlife management boards and government.

Sanikiluaq, which has had a quota imposed since the early 1970s, is the only Nunavut community affected by the decision.

Lucassie Arragutainaq, manager of the Sanikiluaq hunters and trappers organization, said as far as they know, their quota of 25 bears per year will not be affected by the deal. Voting will take place in the next couple of weeks.

"There is a management plan in place between Nunavut and Nunavik because they (polar bears) could easily be banned for trade if nothing happens, so therefore the HTO supports that agreement that was imposed last week by the federal government," he said.

He added hunters will be able to hunt polar bears a little longer with the quota in place.

Makivik Corp. agreed to the quota, subject to endorsement from Nunavik residents from affected communities.

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