Polar bear hunting season has started on Baffin Island almost a month earlier than usual. This year, the Inuit will harvest up to 32 males and nine females up from the usual limit of 16 males and seven females. The Davis Strait population of polar bears is one of the few that all parties (NGOs, science and Inuit) agree is increasing.
The increase in the Davis Strait population is both on account of changing ice patterns/good ice seasons in the eastern Arctic but also from an explosion of seal populations. I have heard that since the seal harvest was reduced in Newfoundland/Labrador that Harp Seal populations have not only increased dramatically in that area but have spread north. Polar bears being who they are, of course, have capitalized on this new bounty.
Of course, politically speaking no one is actually saying this is an increased quota – just using up credits that have accumulated over the past years. Hard to say what the real story is (it always is muddled in the north) but this really seems like the Inuit sending a bit of a message to NGOs, science and the south.
It is hard to say what will happen this year with the polar bear hunt. Ice conditions are far under the thirty year norm which could mean one of two things – Davis Strait polar bears are accessible on the landlocked shore ice along the east coast of Baffin Island resulting in a full harvest or that these polar bears have moved north towards Baffin Bay chasing early season ice resulting in a long and arduous hunt at best. So, in my opinion, this year’s harvest will either be good or bad and will likely affect the long-term health of bears in a postive or possibly negative fashion.
CBC News Story About Polar Bear Hunting Quotas
Sea Ice Map – Hudson Bay/Davis Strait – Sea ice now covers about two thirds of Hudson Bay – ample room for both populations of polar bears (Western Hudson Bay and Southern Hudson Bay) to be out hunting and roaming. As well, good shore ice has built up along the coast of Davis Strait.
Departure from 1979-2009 Normal Conditions – This red on this map shows where ice should be by mid-December. More has obviously formed in the last two weeks but this year’s ice is still drastically behind the thirty year norm.
The co-management MOU that provides flexible harvesting over multi-year intervals at estimated sustainable levels dates back 2004. It is the third of a comprehensive series of MOUs that date back to 1993. The DS population is not estimated to be increasing, it appears to have increased but is currently stationary. The reason the north may seem “muddled” to you is because you appear to be quite ignorant on the subject. Here is a suggestion, next time learn a bit about the topic before you share your views on it.