Inuit outfitters, U.S. hunters in limbo over delayed polar bear decision

Inuit outfitters in Nunavut and American sport hunters are calling on the U.S. government to make up its mind about listing polar bears as a threatened species.

Outfitters say the government's delay in announcing that decision — originally due Jan. 9 — has put the multi-million-dollar annual sport hunt in Canada's North in limbo while hunters wait to see if a listing would change their travel plans.

In Grise Fiord, Nunavut, Marty Kuluguqtuk of Qutsiktumiuk Outfitting told CBC News that the polar bear sport hunt started a couple weeks later than usual this year because American hunters were worried that having the polar bear listed as a threatened species would prevent them from bringing their trophies home.

"Somebody's got to make a decision…. Our decision has been that we are going to go ahead as if it's normal," Kuluguqtuk said Friday. "So that's where we are right now."

Of the 35 polar bear hunts allowed in Grise Fiord this year, 10 have been reserved for sport hunters. One hunt has already taken place, but Kuluguqtuk said the remaining hunters have put down only deposits to date.

"If [the government] lists it as threatened, the clients from the U.S. that are booked [and] that have partially paid their fee would have to cancel their hunts altogether," he said.

Many hunters book more than a year in advance to take part in a polar bear hunt, paying upwards of $35,000 or more for airfare, accommodations, and hunt-related fees.

"I don't think it's fair to those people, and I don't think it's the best way to proceed," said Doug Burdin of Safari Club International, a pro-hunting lobby group.

Few answers for hunters

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which was tasked with making a recommendation on the bears' status, has received a number of calls and e-mails from sport hunters concerned about the issue, a spokeswoman told CBC News.

But Valerie Fellows added that there are few answers for hunters on what would happen if that status were granted.

"Does that mean that the trophies of this year would be able to be grandfathered in or not? Those are still some of the questions we're waiting to answer," Fellows said.

The U.S. currently issues permits to import 60 to 70 polar bear trophies a year, Fellows said.

Conservation groups have petitioned the U.S. to list polar bears as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act, arguing the bears' sea ice habitat is shrinking due to global warming.

Listing polar bears as threatened would require U.S. federal agencies to make sure anything they do does not jeopardize the bears or the Arctic sea ice where they live.