Nunavut MLAs unanimously passed a motion Friday opposing an American initiative to list polar bears as a threatened species under the U.S. Endangered Species Act.

Environment Minister Patterk Netser introduced the motion in the legislative assembly, stating that the U.S. proposal is based on studies that are limited in scope, and could seriously threaten the territory's sport hunting industry.

A U.S. proposal to list the polar bear as a threatened species could hurt sport hunts of the bears in Nunavut.
(CBC)

"Those of us who live in and hunt in Nunavut know our polar bears and environment far better than the southern organizations and activist groups," Netser said Friday.

"Listing polar bears as threatened will do nothing to improve a wildlife management system that is one of the best in the world," he added.

Netser also defended the sport hunt, saying it "does not take one extra animal out of the annual polar bear quotas."

He said he hopes formal opposition from Nunavut will have some impact on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which has until January to decide if polar bears should be listed as a threatened species across their range. The proposal arose from concerns that global warming is melting away the bears' icy habitats, endangering their survival.

If the polar bear does become listed as a threatened species, all U.S. federal agencies would have to ensure that anything they authorize that might affect polar bears will not jeopardize their survival or the sea ice where they live.

But the proposal does not recognize the health of current polar bear populations, Netser said.

The issue struck an emotional chord in the Nunavut legislative assembly, as all MLAs present in the house stood in support of the motion.

"If they're so concerned down there about the polar bears and wanting to preserve them, why the hell don't they sign on to the Kyoto protocol?" Iqaluit Centre MLA Hunter Tootoo said.

Proposed legislation could close loophole

However, Netser's motion does not mention another piece of proposed legislation that could affect polar bear sport hunts in Nunavut and the Northwest Territories.

The proposed polar bear protection act would close a 23-year-old loophole in the U.S. Marine Mammal Protection Act that currently allows American hunters to bring home their trophies from other countries.

The bill, which was introduced on May 16, has support from politicians, including Democratic Senator John Kerry. A spokesperson for Kerry turned down an interview request by CBC News, saying the senator will not do interviews with the international media.

In April, Netser asked the U.S. government to consider limiting the threatened listing to areas where polar bear populations are in decline, saying that while Nunavut agrees climate change is affecting the North, most polar bear populations are abundant.