blood-origins-Should Canada Hunt More Polar Bears

Should Canada Hunt More Polar Bears?

Whether Canada should hunt more polar bears is controversial and complex, involving ethical, environmental, and economic considerations. As the world’s northernmost country with a significant portion of the polar bear population residing in its Arctic territories, Canada plays a pivotal role in conserving and managing this iconic species. However, as climate change and human-wildlife conflicts intensify, the conversation surrounding polar bear hunting is becoming more urgent. Inuit hunters argue it could benefit local communities and the broader ecosystem, while opponents stress the importance of conservation efforts and the ethical implications of hunting a vulnerable species. In an interview with Nunatsiaq News in 2024, Alex Ishalook, Chair of the Arviat Hunters and Trappers Organization and Vice-Chair of the Kivalliq Wildlife Board said, “It’s coming to a point where we are not going to follow [reduced quotas] anymore”.

Polar bears (Ursus maritimus) are the apex predators of the Arctic, dependent on sea ice for hunting seals, their primary food source. The polar bear population is currently more than 17,000 found in 13 subpopulations in Canada. In recent decades, the Arctic has warmed faster than other regions, resulting in melting of glaciers and sea ice. As global temperatures rise, the ice is melting at an unprecedented rate, reducing the bears’ access to their hunting grounds and forcing them to spend more time on land, where food is scarcer. Between 1986 and 2013, the percent of females summering on land increased from 20% to 39% and the average time spent on land increased by 30 days.  This not only impacts their survival rates but also brings them into more frequent contact with human settlements.

Despite the alarming effects of climate change, polar bear hunting remains a legal practice in Canada, particularly in the northern territories, where it is often tied to subsistence hunting and local cultural practices. One scientific publication reported that sport hunting is more financially profitable than subsistence hunting; however, the proportion of the polar quota devoted to sport hunt has become relatively stable at approximately 20% across Nunavut.

The addition of polar bears to the US Marine Mammal Protection Act in 2008 did, however, hurt Inuit communities because hunters from the United States could no longer take their trophies home so they stopped booking hunts with Inuit communities that had allotted quota for hunting tourism. According to Diana Weber from the University of Southern Mississippi, the import ban impacted livelihoods of Arctic Indigenous communities reduced tolerance for dangerous fauna and affected local participation in shared management initiatives.

Polar bears are no less an important commodity today, especially for Inuit with limited access to employment. In many Nunavut communities up to half the adult men are either unemployed or limited to casual and/or seasonal work. In a place with high food costs and where the average annual per capita income is less than $20,000, polar bear hunting can be a significant source of income. Either through sales from fur auctions in Southern Canada (in 2006 polar bears sold for approximately CND$150.00 per foot) or to private buyers (avg. received price approx. CAD $2500.00) polar bear hunting can have a positive impact on local communities. Locals will also be able to capitalize on the expensive cost of sport hunts. The sale of polar bear sport hunts is generally negotiated through wholesalers based in Southern Canada and the United States. These wholesalers locate clients and retain 40-45% of the approximately CAD $35,000 sport hunt clients are charged.

Additionally, some argue that regulated hunting can serve as a form of population control, preventing overpopulation in areas where polar bears have more frequent conflict with humans. “There’s been lots and lots of encounters by polar bears – damages to cabins, close calls, people being chased by polar bears around here in the community,” said Alex Ishalook. “Our concerns are getting stronger and stronger.”

The question of whether Canada should be hunting more polar pears gets complicated when evaluating key population factors including reproduction and survival, harvest rate, sex ratio, environmental conditions, and level of precision in population data. So maybe a better question is – How can polar bears be harvested sustainably when considering all demographics including the safety of local communities? By carefully monitoring the hunting quotas and ensuring that hunting is done sustainably, it may be possible to manage the population in a new way that ensures both the long-term survival of the species and the continuation of hunting practices.

The question of whether Canada should hunt more polar bears cannot be answered with a simple “yes” or “no.” It requires a careful examination of the complex factors involved including the impact of climate change on the bears’ habitat to the cultural and economic needs of local communities. Only through a balanced, sustainable approach that prioritizes both conservation and the rights of Inuit can Canada navigate this difficult issue.

Canada should restore quotas and hunt more polar bears to help control their populations, particularly in regions where numbers are growing beyond sustainable levels. This approach would provide Inuit communities with vital economic opportunities, supporting their traditional way of life and socio-economic well-being. By setting appropriate quotas, Canada can ensure that polar bear populations are managed in a way that balances conservation efforts with the needs of Inuit. Considering the changing climate and its impact on both the species and communities, a carefully regulated quota can maintain ecological health while fostering cultural and economic resilience.

Photo credit Adobe Stock / © Ruzdi