Inuit Stewardship of Eastern Hudson Bay Beluga

Beluga within the Nunavik Marine Region (NMR) are grouped into four stocks, named based on their respective summering areas. The Eastern Hudson Bay (EHB) stock of belugas is designated threatened by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC). Over the years, the EHB stock has been managed through quotas, seasonal closures, area closures, and flexible percentage system for total allowable take (TAT). Management approaches are often based on scientific data collected from surveys due to lack of recorded Inuit expertise.

The goal of this project is to document Inuit knowledge of the EHB beluga stock, particularly stewardship practices, to contribute to future management decisions in order to ensure more fulsome participation of Nunavik Inuit in the stewardship of beluga. This will be done through interviews with elders and knowledgeable hunters in Kuujjuarapik, Umiujaq, and Inukjuak.