Features: The Beluga (Delphinaptris leucas) is a relatively small, toothed whale, normally reaching about 5 metres long and weighing about 2 tonnes. Belugas are characterized by their white skin as adults (young Belugas are a soft grey), a dorsal ridge rather than a true fin, and a pronounced “melon-head”. The enlarged forehead is involved in echo-location, and is thought to focus the clicks that are emitted. The clicks help locate prey, and aid in navigation under ice.

Belugas are migratory. In summer they congregate in river estuaries and shallow bays, where they moult and calve. In the fall, Belugas migrate to areas of open ocean that remain open during winter. Individuals from Ontario usually winter in seas off Baffin Island, where they mingle with individuals from other populations.

Belugas are social, and very vocal. They produce a wide range of complex sounds for communication with other individuals. Most of these calls can be heard by humans, especially when Belugas congregate in shallow waters in the summer.

Beluga is one of the most sought-after foods for Inuit. The top layers of the skin yield "muktuk," which is an energy-rich food high in Vitamin C. Belugas can adapt well to captivity, and there are a number of aquaria which breed Belugas.

Status: Special Concern Provincially and Nationally

Range: Beluga whales have a circumpolar distribution, occurring in the waters of Alaska, Canada, Greenland, Norway and Russia. In Canada, seven populations are recognized currently. In Ontario, a population dubbed the “Western Hudson bay population” (WHB) spends the summer mainly in the western coast of Ontario and Manitoba. Range Maps

Threats: The last count of Belugas in the WHB population was in the late 1980s when aerial surveys estimated the population size at about 25,000 whales. While there are no recent data on population trends, there is some concern that hunting pressures have increased on the Ontario population since the last census. Other threats include disturbance from increased freight shipping in the Hudson Bay area. There is some concern that shoreline disturbance from hydroelectric development in Hudson Bay lowlands could change the river estuary and bay habitats, and hence impact the summer population. The Ontario population is not subject to chemical pollution in the way that the St. Lawrence Estuary population is.

Protection: In Canada, Belugas are managed under the federal Fisheries Act. Special regulations within the Act allow Belugas to be hunted by Canadian Indians and Inuit. The WHB population is hunted, and there are no quotas or management plans imposed on hunters.

Text Sources: Smith 2004

Last Modified Date: June 2008