Hunting is a complex topic with respect to polar bears, one intertwined with Indigenous cultural traditions and rights. Appreciating these nuances and complexities is fundamental to understanding why limited trade and sport hunting is allowed.
Polar Bears and Sport Hunting
Polar Bears International opposes the illegal killing of polar bears in all forms. At the same time, we recognize that limited hunting — based on carefully monitored and managed systems — is a legally protected Indigenous right that can also be an integral part of long term conservation if well monitored and managed.
Indigenous People have the right to hunt a select number of polar bears; in Canada, this is co-managed by government and Indigenous agencies through a quota system that issues tags to each community. Given the severe economic challenges in the remote North, some communities sell tags to sport hunters. Currently, a small number of these tags (under 10%) are used for guided hunts by visitors to communities in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut.
This does not increase the number of polar bears killed — in fact, usually it results in fewer kills. Sport hunting tags are drawn from the existing quota for subsistence hunting. It is It is up to Indigenous communities how they wish to use the tags.
If a community uses a tag in this way, strict rules apply:
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The hunter must hire a local guide
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The team must travel by dog sled
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The meat stays with the community
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The hide and other parts used for research, trade or otherwise are subject to all international and national laws on export and import
While we play a critical role in informing policy and ensuring that these quotas do not threaten polar bear populations, we respect Indigenous rights and traditions. It is not our place to dictate how tags are used; this is a community decision.
Canada is the only country that currently allows sport or trophy hunting of polar bears.
The overhunting of polar bears was a problem in the past but this was addressed in 1973 when the five polar bear nations signed an international agreement on polar bear conservation that limited hunting to Indigenous communities. The agreement was the driving force behind the formation of the IUCN Polar Bear Specialist Group and the Polar Bear Range States. Current hunting levels remain at or below levels deemed cautionary for most subpopulations in most years. Indeed, recent research ranking the threats to polar bears shows that the conservation threat from hunting is low compared to the threat from climate change, although continued diligence is needed to ensure hunts aren’t harming the bears on a population level.
Polar Bears and CITES
CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) is an international treaty that regulates the trade of species across international borders. The decision to uplist a species is made by member nations of CITES based on data and established guidelines.
Currently, polar bears are listed on Appendix II, which allows for strictly controlled international trade of scientific samples, furs and other parts.
Current Proposals
There is currently no proposal to move polar bears from Appendix II.
At present, according to the established criteria and available data, polar bears as a species do meet the criteria established for Appendix II, and do not meet the thresholds required for an uplisting from Appendix II to Appendix I. Appendix I is reserved for critically endangered species whose primary threat is directly linked to trade.
Past Proposals
In 2013, polar bears were proposed for an uplisting to Appendix I, which would ban all international trade, but would not change hunting quotas in countries where it is currently legal. The proposal was not successful, on the basis that polar bears did not meet the established criteria for Appendix I, and that further restricting trade would not benefit the conservation of polar bears. This position was supported by major scientific, conservation, and Indigenous organizations, including the Polar Bear Specialists Group, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), TRAFFIC, WWF, Polar Bears International, and the Inuit Circumpolar Council.
Legality of Trade in Polar Bear Parts
- Canada: Legal with restrictions. At present, only Canada allows legally hunted polar bears to be exported. In recent years, the majority of that trade has occurred within the country and export has comprised less than 10% of the overall hunt.
- Greenland: Legal with restrictions. While hunting is legal in Greenland, export is currently banned voluntarily and trade occurs only within the country.
- Norway: Legal with restrictions. Norway has banned all polar bear hunting but still allows limited trade, including both historic hides from Norway and new items in accordance with CITES regulations.
- Russia: Illegal. Russia has banned all polar bear hunting.
- United States: Legal with restrictions. Trade in the U.S. is regulated by the Marine Mammal Protection Act and the Endangered Species Act coupled with laws within the State of Alaska.
Polar Bears International’s Stance on Trade
Polar Bears International condemns any illegal or unsustainable trade of polar bears.
While there can always be improvements within CITES around the tracking and reporting of wildlife trade broadly, the latest research shows that trade is not considered a significant threat for this species. We encourage vigilant monitoring of both trade and hunting across the polar bear range and have noted positive improvements around this issue through actions of the Polar Bear Range States and their Trade Working Group.
As a science-based organisation, we know that climate change remains the overarching threat to polar bears across their range by a wide margin. However, recent research indicates that, although climate-driven habitat loss remains the dominant threat, hunting can be an important anthropogenic stressor in certain regions, supporting the need for continued research, monitoring, and dialogue with key stakeholders. New genomics research is also adding insights into population dynamics that will be critical to consider within such broader discussions going forward.
What We’re Doing
Along with colleagues in all polar bear countries, we’re carefully monitoring the effects of trade and hunting on polar bear populations.
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We continue to support the monitoring and where possible, the mitigation of all threats to polar bear populations. While climate change remains the largest threat to polar bears by a long shot, other threats to polar bears include overhunting, overtourism, and oil and gas development — especially near denning areas.
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We are prioritizing fundraising for a new analysis of the potential conservation and societal impacts of sport hunting in Canada.
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We call on the Polar Bear Range States to reactivate their Polar Bear Trade Working Group to review progress to date, current concerns, and the potential for further joint actions around trade monitoring, data integrity, and data access.
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We call on governments to ensure effective monitoring and strong enforcement against illegal trade and unsustainable hunting practices. This includes following best practices across the trade chain for traceability and authenticity.
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We call on governments, including wildlife management agencies, to prioritize the protection of polar bear mothers and cubs, with stronger safeguards for females and their denning areas.
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We collaborate with governments, nonprofits and Indigenous communities on long-term coexistence solutions. We know from experience that collaborative partnerships produce the best conservation results.
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From Canada’s Western Hudson Bay to the Barents Sea in Norway, we help fund studies on polar bear numbers, movement patterns, and gene diversity, supporting both long term monitoring efforts around the Arctic and the development of new methodologies and the next generation of polar bear scientists.
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Polar Bears International continues to invest in less-invasive scientific research, advancing conservation technology that’s better for the bears.
See all of our work here.