Beluga – Consideration to extend the Current Management System (one-year extension) – 2025 Written Public Hearing

Consideration to extend the current beluga management system until January 31, 2027 (one-year extension)

NOTICE – ᑐᓴᕐᑕᐅᑎᑦᓯᒍᑏᑦ

Hearing Notice Hearing Notice - ᖃᐅᔨᑎᑦᓯᒍᑎ ᐊᑑᑎᔭᐅᓯᒪᔪᖅ

Notice is herein provided on April 14, 2025 that the Nunavik Marine Region Wildlife Board (NMRWB) and Eeyou Marine Region Wildlife Board (EMRWB) are holding a written hearing to consider whether to approve the request from Anguvigaq to extend the current Beluga Management System by one year, until January 31, 2027, in accordance with their authority under s. 5.2.3(a) and 5.2.3(e) of the Nunavik Inuit Land Claims Agreement (“NILCA”) and s.13.2.1(a) and 13.2.1(e) of the Eeyou Marine Region Land Claims Agreement (“EMRLCA”).

The following parties have Full Party status at this joint written hearing:

Makivvik Corporation
The Cree Nation Government
Any Anguvigait (LNUK)
Any Local Cree Trappers Association (“CTA”)
The Anguvigaq (RNUK)
The Regional CTA
Any Nunavik Inuk
Any Cree of the Eeyou-Istchee
The Government of Canada
The Government of Nunavut

This written hearing is being held to gather information and the positions of all relevant parties regarding the proposed one-year extension. The Request for Decision emphasizes that the purpose of the extension is to allow for meaningful community engagement and integration of newly available scientific and Inuit knowledge. However, in the event that the extension is granted, the Board retains the authority to amend aspects of the current Beluga Management System as needed in response to new information, especially where immediate conservation or management responses are required.

The NMRWB is considering any information or comments that parties deem relevant, but is particularly interested in answers to the following questions:

Would the proposed extension aid co-management partners in co-developing a fulsome beluga management proposal for the Boards?
If the current beluga management system is not extended by 1 year, what alternatives are suggested to ensure beluga populations and Cree/Inuit harvesting rights are protected past January 31, 2026?
If the current management system is extended by 1 year, will modification(s) to the system be necessary to ensure beluga populations and Cree/Inuit harvesting rights are protected during the extension? If so, what might these changes be?
Should the NMRWB approve the request to extend the current beluga management system by one year?

A copy of the Request for Decision as submitted by the Anguvigaq is available below.

Request from Anguvigaq

Additional documents relevant to this issue are available for download from the NMRWB and EMRWB Hearing Registry (below), or may be obtained by requesting copies by contacting the NMRWB using the contact information below.

The hearing will be held from April 14 to May 12, 2025. The NMRWB is accepting written or oral submissions, as well as additional information for the hearing process.

The hearing rules, and the schedule and deadlines for each phase of the hearing can be found below.

Hearing Rules Hearing Rules - ᑐᑭᓯᓂᐊᕐᕕᖃᕐᓂᓄᑦ ᒪᓕᒐᖁᑏᑦ

HEARING SCHEDULE – ᓈᓚᓐᓇᖃᕐᓂᐅᑉ ᐅᒃᓗᓴᓕᐅᕐᑕᐅᒪᒍᑎᖏᑦ

April 14 – 25, 2025: (i) Applications for Party Status and (ii) Submissions to the Hearing Registry

April 26 – May 12, 2025: (iii) Final Written Submissions and (iv) Virtual/Phone Submissions.

(i) Application for Party Status

Individuals or organizations not listed above, who have an interest and may be impacted by the decisions to be made by the Boards may submit a Request for Party Status by completing and submitting the form accompanying this notice titled “FORM 1: Application to Obtain Party Status”. The deadline for applications is no later than 5:00 PM EST on April 25, 2025.

(ii) Submissions to the Hearing Registry

Parties may also provide information to be included in the Hearing Registry, which will be publicly available on the hearing web page. The hearing registry is intended to contain information relevant to the Board’s considerations. The hearing registry may also inform comments or opinions of parties in their Final Submissions

(iii) Final Written Submissions

Parties with Standing to the hearing may provide written submissions for the Boards to consider in their decision-making. Submissions should be limited to comments on the proposed extension, and must be submitted by May 12, 2025 to: [email protected]. Audio recordings are also accepted.

(iv) Virtual / Phone Submissions

Parties are welcome to provide submission virtually or by phone. Please set up a time by contacting our staff by phone or email ((819)-254-8667, [email protected]). Additionally, the NMRWB may organize a specific call-in day if enough interest is expressed by parties.

Unless persuasive written reasons are provided for late filing, the Board will not consider materials for this hearing that are not filed on time. The Boards will make publicly available all written materials within one week of filing deadlines, subject to relevant confidentiality or privacy concerns.

FORM 1: Application for party status

Hearing Registry – ᑐᑭᓯᓂᐊᕐᓂᒧᑦ ᐊᒃᓚᓯᒪᔪᖕᖑᑕᐅᒍᑏᑦ

The Board will post all information submitted and gathered for this hearing on the hearing registry, and will continue to add information as it becomes available. Subject to relevant confidentiality or privacy concerns, all relevant documents will be posted below.

These documents can also be obtained by contacting the NMRWB office (see contact information below).