Hunters in Canada’s Nunavik region could be charged after beluga hunt

DFO says hunters in region already harvested 315 beluga quota

Seven hunters in Nunavik, a predominantly Inuit region in the North of the Canadian province of Quebec, could be charged with taking beluga after a hunt took place near the community of a week ago.

According to Canada’s department of Fisheries and Oceans, beluga season in Nunavik ended four days earlier and the region had met its quota. The department said hunters had already reached the total allowable harvest of 315 beluga.

Rhoda Ezekiel, the chair of the Quaqtaq Hunters and Trappers Association, said the hunters were taken to the local police station for questioning.

Ezekiel said some hunters in Quaqtaq helped with the harvest but did not actually kill the whales.

She said all the hunters questioned by police were from outside communities.

Ezekiel said normally the hunting season ends at the end of November.

Officials with the Department of Fisheries are meeting about incident for the next two days.

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