Polar bear hunt to continue

by Amy Judd | November 6, 2008 at 11:03 am

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Polar bear sitting in tundra without snow - signs of global warming

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105 polar bears will still be able to be killed by hunters in Nunavut's Baffin Bay as the environment minister has agreed to leave the quota the same, despite the fact that the bears are endangered species and killing too many could seriously over-tip the balance.

CBC News has learned that outgoing Environment Minister Olayuk Akesuk accepted a recommendation from the Nunavut Wildlife Management Board not to cut the Baffin Bay polar bear quota — also known as the total allowable harvest — for this season.

Territorial government staff had wanted to cut the quota to 64 bears or less. They've argued for the past three years that the harvest there is too high, in part because of hunting in nearby Greenland.

"Combined harvest in the Baffin Bay should not exceed about 90 animals, and presently with the combined harvest from Nunavut and Greenland, it's 176," Drikus Gissing, Nunavut's director of wildlife management, told CBC News on Tuesday.

"So it's a significant overharvesting that's taking place in this population."

But at a public hearing held in Pond Inlet in April, dozens of hunters from Pond Inlet, Clyde River and Qikiqtarjuaq told the Nunavut Wildlife Management Board that the polar bear population in Baffin Bay is on the rise, not decreasing.

The hunters also argued that the government's bid to reduce the polar bear hunt was based on outdated information.

Gissing said the minister agreed to keep the quota unchanged this year in Baffin Bay partly because of the hunters' concerns, and partly because of the amount of time it took for the wildlife board to render a decision.

The government submitted its proposal to the board in 2007, and a decision came about a year and a half later.

A backlash from the international community is expected, but it is likely a different agreement will have to be reached for the hunt next year. Most likely a different number will have to be reached as the number of polar bears are dwindling in number as it is.

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Jarrett Martineau

at 11:35 on November 6th, 2008

I can't believe this. I think a few people need to check out BBC's Planet Earth.

Fairbanks

at 11:40 on November 6th, 2008

While hunters from the USA can take part in polar bear hunts in Canada they may not return with trophies since polars bears are totally protected in the USA except in acts of self-defense, and even then trophies are not permitted.

travel_photography

at 11:47 on November 6th, 2008

How stupid (or greedy) does the human race can be??

Very frustrating - it is up to our politics to stop it - BUT what they do care...????

setting Sun rising Moon

at 13:22 on November 6th, 2008

I do not feel it necessary to hunt polar bears today, with the wide use of synthetic fabrics which in most cases are lighter and more effective in keeping an individual warm and dry. I can understand that the Inuit people may want to keep the "tradition" of the hunt, though very little else is kept traditional: Snowmobiles rather than dog sleds, rifles rather than harpoons, and modern homes over igloos.
It appears to be sport rather than need. Hopefully future generations will recognize this fact and quit the hunt, before these beautiful bears are extinct. A better sustainable economy can be taken advantage of with tourism.

setting Sun rising Moon has contributed a photo to this story.

Terri Potratz

at 14:21 on November 6th, 2008

150 polar bears a year, for what? 'Sport'?

travel_photography

at 15:15 on November 6th, 2008

no/yes.... for money

Paul Conneally

at 15:30 on November 6th, 2008

some people hunt for meat and they are very few and their hunting is sustainable even if i don't like the idea of nice white furred animals being killed and eaten but this quota is not about this its more than this... mmm

the farcical comment is that they haven't reviewed the quota because of "because of the amount of time it took for the wildlife board to render a decision" .... this is just lame...

Ursus Maritimus (not verified)

at 16:14 on November 6th, 2008

Olayuk Akesuk, you will be ripped apart by Polar bears.

Chicken (not verified)

at 07:51 on May 27th, 2009

And Ursus Maritimus, you will be trampled down by cattle, pigs and chicken :-D

A. Tran

at 19:22 on November 6th, 2008

I find it barbaric for people to hunt polar bears for sports or worse, for meals.

Apparently the Alaska governor is also one those mindless and vocal advocates of hunting polar bears.

Didn't these people know that polar bears are already endangered due to the shrinking ice from global warming?

coldnebraskablue

at 01:23 on November 7th, 2008

Seal River Heritage Lodge, Northern Manitoba.

coldnebraskablue has contributed a photo to this story.

Seth Bolling (not verified)

at 11:59 on November 7th, 2008

I feel polar bears are unlucky to be endagered. I do also feel that we didn't climb to the top of the food chain to eat lettuce. If any animal were to climb as high as we have in the food chain then I give them free shots to try to come and eat us.

Benjamin313 (not verified)

at 09:10 on November 18th, 2008

Okay for each Polar Bear taken brings in 25-35k for the local area if someone come in and kills it for a trophy. If a native person kills the bear, it brings in ...well almost nothing.

Hunting from snowmobiles is not allowed and its not easy to do your not just dropped in, shoot the bear and leave. You have to live on the land while you hunt, its not from a house. People would never hunt these to extintion. It makes money.

Tourism can bring in 25-35k a person? I don't think so and have you ever been up in these remote areas? Well if you haven't your not contributing your money to them so you better get packing and visit them.