NUNAVIK & ADJACENT WATERS 2010 BELUGA MANAGEMENT PLAN

Transcription

1 NUNAVIK & ADJACENT WATERS 2010 BELUGA MANAGEMENT PLAN

2 TABLE OF CONTENTS PREAMBLE... iii REVISION PROCESS...iv IMPLEMENTATION PROCESS...iv SCIENTIFIC ADVICE CONSERVATION MEASURES FOR ALL AREAS Conservation concerns about females, calves and juveniles Conservation concerns about netting Conservation concerns about wastage Conservation concerns about abiding by the management plan AREAS FOR NORTHERN QUEBEC BELUGA HARVESTING Ungava Bay Hudson Strait Eastern Hudson Bay Long Island (James Bay North) and James Bay Ottawa Islands Nottingham and Salisbury Islands Belcher Islands / Western Hudson Bay SUMMARY BELUGA TOTAL ALLOWABLE TAKE (TAT) PER AREA Appendix Map of the Areas for Northern Quebec Beluga Photographer: Véronique Lesage, DFO - ii -

3 PREAMBLE While Fisheries and Oceans Canada retains ultimate responsibility for conservation of certain fish and all marine mammals, including habitat in Nunavik, under the Nunavik Inuit Land Claims Agreement (NILCA), the Nunavik Marine Region Wildlife Board (NMRWB) is the main instrument of wildlife management in the Nunavik Marine Region (NMR), the main regulator of access to wildlife, and has the primary responsibility in relation thereto, in the manner described in the NILCA (S.5.2.3). The NILCA also assigns wildlife management responsibilities to the Local Nunavimmi Umajulivijiit Katujiqatigininga LNUK (S ) and to Regional Nunavimmi Umajulivijiit Katujiqatigininga RNUK (S.5.7.4). The Nunavik & Adjacent Waters, 2010 Beluga Management Plan reflects the most recent traditional and scientific knowledge, as well as many years of management with Nunavik and Nunavut Inuit and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO). Initial discussions on the Nunavik & Adjacent Waters 2010 Beluga Management Plan were held by members of the Nunavik Hunters, Fishermen and Trappers Association (NHFTA) in Puvirnituq on November 23-24, Representatives were: Makivik Corporation, Kativik Regional Government (KRG), Regional Hunting, Fishing and Trapping Association (NHFTA 1 ), HFTA 1 Eastern Hudson Bay area, HFTA Hudson Strait area, HFTA Ungava Bay area, NMRWB and DFO Quebec region. Total Allowable Take (TAT), community quota distribution, as well as all other management and implementation measures were discussed during that meeting. Subsequent discussions on the Nunavik & Adjacent Waters 2010 Beluga Management Plan where held in Kuujjuaq on February th, 2010 with representatives of the NMRWB, NHFTA and DFO Quebec. The result of those discussions was presented to the NMRWB members on March 9, As per section of the NILCA, the NMRWB is responsible for determining the TAT. Upon review, the NMRWB accepted the proposed Nunavik & Adjacent Waters 2010 Beluga Management Plan and submitted the plan to the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans on March which was approved on? in order to facilitate an early opening of the season. The NMRWB will work with the NHFTA, DFO and other Inuit organizations in the coming year to foster the development of a 3 year plan ( ) that better integrates traditional and scientific knowledge and identifies areas for improvement of the management plan. Management plans for belugas that are hunted in the areas of Equal Use and Occupancy shared by Nunavik and Nunavut are the shared responsibility of the wildlife management boards of each jurisdiction. 1 It is to be noted that in the following pages we will refer to local HFTA as the LNUK and the Nunavik HFTA as the RNUK. - iii -

4 REVISION PROCESS This Nunavik & Adjacent Waters 2010 Beluga Management Plan, may be revised prior to its expiration for conservation reasons, or should new information, which can have an impact on the management approach, be made available. Further consultation will be made prior to making any significant changes to the plan. Implementation measures may also be modified as long as they respect the provisions of the 2010 Beluga Management Plan and conservation objectives. IMPLEMENTATION PROCESS Where the Minister is deemed to have accepted a decision of the NMRWB, the Minister shall proceed forthwith to do all things necessary to implement the final decision (c.f. NILCA section , , and ). DFO fulfills this responsibility through a variety of mechanisms, each in formal and informal partnership with Nunavik representatives. Each hunter is responsible for respecting applicable rules and regulations as well as the conservation measures outlined in the 2010 Beluga Management Plan. In addition, a communal hunting plan is to be developed by each community in order to ensure that community harvest allocations are respected. The monitoring of compliance with the ensemble of regulations and management measures is performed by DFO representatives in collaboration with local partners that include, Uumajuit Wardens and Technicians under the supervision of the Kativik Regional Government, as well as RNUK and LNUKs representatives. Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Quebec Region February iv -

5 SCIENTIFIC ADVICE The beluga or white whale (Delphinapterus leucas) occurs in the waters around Nunavik (Northern Quebec), along the coasts of James Bay, Eastern Hudson Bay (EHB), Hudson Strait and Ungava Bay. Commercial harvesting by the Hudson Bay Company in Nunavik during the 19 th Century led to the depletion of Eastern Hudson Bay and Ungava Bay beluga populations. The Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) has classified the EHB and Ungava Bay beluga populations as "Endangered" 2. The hunting of beluga whales is an important traditional activity for the Inuit as a subsistence hunt and helping to define their culture. While the Nunavik human population is increasing rapidly, subsistence harvest demands need to be balanced with the need to allow these small beluga populations to recover. The EHB population was last evaluated in A population model incorporating harvest information was fitted to EHB aerial survey data. The best estimate obtained from the model indicates that the population has likely declined from 4,300 (SE=300) belugas in 1985 to 3,000 (SE=800, rounded to the nearest 100) in Ungava Bay was surveyed in No whales were observed on transect. This is consistent with all previous surveys since An analysis of the probability of detecting whales in this area, suggests that a minimum population of 200 animals at the surface is needed if one whale were to be detected on transect, with the current survey design. A review of the genetic material was also performed in The genetic mixing analysis indicated that approximately 12% of beluga hunted from Sanikiluaq have EHB haplotypes. Beluga hunted in Hudson Strait villages have a high genetic diversity, confirming that several populations are hunted there. In previous assessments, it was estimated that 21% of the Hudson Strait villages harvest, 13% of the Ungava Bay harvest comprise EHB animals, and all animals harvested in Eastern Hudson Bay near their communities. When examined seasonally, the EHB contribution to the Hudson Strait hunt during the spring is lower (12%) than is the contribution of EHB animals to the hunt in fall (22%). Samples collected since 2004 showed a lower proportion of EHB animals harvested during spring and summer (6% and 9%, respectively), while fall samples comprised 17% EHB animals. DNA analyses of tissues collected during the period suggest that the overall proportion of EHB animals in the harvest has declined to 9%. However, the tissue sampling program does not necessarily reflect the composition of the harvest, with some years having more tissue collections from the spring, but with a higher proportion of harvests occurring in the fall. Continued subsistence hunting underscores a need to monitor changes in the EHB beluga population. Under the previous management plan, the decline in the population has likely slowed and the population may have stabilized. 2 Endangered means that this stock may face extinction if not well protected

6 In April 2005, a DFO workshop was held to develop criteria to evaluate recovery and to determine what could constitute a recovered population. At the workshop, it was accepted that a recovered population would reach a level of at least 70% of the estimated historical population size. In 1845, EHB belugas were thought to number 12,500 animals, which would result in a recovery level of 8,750 animals. If there was no harvesting of EHB belugas, then the population would be expected to reach the recovery population size of 8,750 animals in 35 years. Since management measures were put in place in 1986, the Total Allowable Take (TAT) was exceeded in a number of years in Nunavik (Northern Quebec). In more recent years, however, the Department and Nunavik hunters have collaboratively succeeded in reducing overall take levels and the 2009 harvest was lower than the TAT set. Based on the last population assessment completed in 2008, different levels of harvest of EHB animals will affect the time required until EHB beluga population recovers. Population models indicate that a maximum harvest of around 50 EHB animals per year is required if no decline in the population is to occur. If the population is to increase, then harvests must be further reduced. A harvest of 50 EHB animals per year has a 50% probability that the population will decrease. A harvest of 40 animals has a 40% probability that the population will decline (Fig. 1). 1 0,9 0,8 Prob. decreasing 0,7 0,6 0,5 0,4 0,3 0,2 0, Annual landings Figure 1: Eastern Hudson Bay belugas. Probability of stock decrease at different catch levels estimated by a Bayesian stock-production model assuming deterministic stock dynamics

7 A harvest of 50 reported EHB animals would likely not lead to any change in the population, while lower harvests than this would allow some recovery. It is recommended that no harvesting of beluga occur in Ungava Bay. The eastern Hudson Bay arc should also remain closed to hunting. With the removal of 50 animals from the EHB population, recovery may take over 200 years. Scientific information anticipates that the longer the recovery period, the greater the possibility of unusual mortality events (e.g. disease, ice entrapments), which could seriously jeopardize recovery. DFO science will accept the capture of up to 50 EHB belugas. It is preferable to hunt belugas in the Hudson Strait from April 1 August 31, as the most recent scientific information indicates the probability of capturing an EHB beluga is lowest at this time of year. By hunting belugas in the Hudson Strait during this period, the TAT can be maximized without increasing the number of EHB beluga in the harvest. Improved sampling at all hunt locations will be necessary to refine the understanding of the actual number of EHB animals removed. The catch of belugas in Ottawa Islands is a pilot project for Stock composition of animals harvested from this area is uncertain. Therefore, if sampling should determine that these animals belong to the EHB population then DFO science will recommend that no catch take place in this area in the following years. The communities of Akulivik and Puvirnituq will harvest their Eastern Hudson Bay take in Cape Smith and obtain samples in order to determine the genetic makeup of the belugas in the Cape Smith area. The size of the Ungava Bay population is not known. However, too few samples have been obtained from this population to determine if it does indeed form a separate stock. Satellite telemetry, photo-identification and resight studies have shown that beluga show very strong site fidelity. Despite repeated disturbance and harvesting they tend to return to the same river estuary, making them extremely vulnerable to over-hunting. Since there is no other known estuary in the Ungava Bay region where the UB population is able to seek refuge without disturbance or threat, it should remain closed. As long as animals are not harvested at the Mucalic Estuary, the removal of a small number of animals that are properly sampled could provide valuable information on the identity of this group of animals, and would likely have minimal impact. Conclusion: The 2010 Beluga Management Plan is based on the 2009 Beluga Management Plan with the removal of two pilot projects, Winter Hudson Strait and Nottingham and Salisbury Island. Emphasis is placed on hunting the majority of belugas in the Hudson Strait in the spring and summer season to reduce the catch of EHB belugas. Moreover, by shifting hunting activity to the spring and summer, a lesser proportion of EHB beluga should be captured. It is estimated that the overall impact of the TAT maintains the annual harvest of EHB belugas at 50 or less. Both the NMRWB and - 4 -

8 NHFTA will make concerted efforts to ensure that the communities understand and adhere to the take assigned to the spring/summer season and to the take assigned to the fall season. As the proportion of EHB belugas presumed to be taken during the spring/summer season and fall season differs, the take assigned to the spring/summer season is not transferable to the fall season. Improvements in information concerning the genetic composition of the catch through hunter provided samples, and the collection of complete and accurate hunt statistics will allow evaluation of the effectiveness of the 2010 Beluga Management Plan

9 CONSERVATION MEASURES FOR ALL AREAS Hunters must co-operate with the RNUK and LNUKs, KRG Wardens and Technicians, and DFO by: Improving catch report data in order to get complete report of all catches including complete mapping of the hunting sites, as well as colour and sex of whales. Reporting lost and wounded belugas, also belugas caught by nets. Providing tooth and skin samples of every whale catch for genetic analyses. Respecting the Total Allowable Take (TAT) for each and every hunting area. The TAT is the sum of landed and lost & wounded animals. Once the TAT is reached, DFO will close the hunting area by Variation Orders which will be distributed to every community, RNUK, LNUKs, FM radio and posted. In case of overharvesting in an area, its TAT for the following year could be adjusted to help ensure recovery of beluga populations. 1.0 Conservation concerns about females, calves and juveniles Females that reproduce and juveniles that have not yet had a chance to reproduce are the most important whales to protect, in order to conserve beluga populations. The word calf means a beluga that is dark in colour and less than 2 m in length. The Article 18 of the Marine Mammal Regulations stipulates that No person shall fish for a beluga calf or for an adult beluga that is accompanied by a calf. All catches are to be reported and deducted from the area TAT. When netting, females and calves should be released. Special care must be taken to reduce hunting of juveniles because of their significant reproductive potential. The catch effort must be directed towards adult males. Hunters must be informed on the importance of protecting grey animals in order to target white whales and avoid grey whales in a pod of whales. Hunters must be very careful when hunting close to groups of females and calves, since a female can leave her calf alone for a short period of time. Killing of either whale of a female/calf pair must be restricted to situations where it is absolutely necessary to prevent starvation. Should a female/calf be killed, the community must make a report to KRG Wardens or Technicians explaining the circumstances of that catch

10 2.0 Conservation concerns about netting Netting is a harvesting method that does not allow for the protection of females, calves and juveniles. Unattended nets and bad weather conditions cause frequent wastage. Netting should only be done within the community hunting area. Nets should be under constant surveillance and pulled out of the water every evening. Communities which practice netting should stop when total catches are near the end of the area TAT. Communities which practice netting must provide a map of netting sites to LNUK, KRG Wardens or Technicians or to DFO. Unattended whaling nets may be removed and seized. 3.0 Conservation concerns about wastage No wastage means: - avoid wounding and losing animals; - retrieval of the beluga must be ensured at all times before shooting; - using all edible parts of the whale; - all whales must be brought onto land for harvesting. The commercial use of whale parts is prohibited in Canada. Consequently, it is forbidden to sell, trade or barter parts of beluga with non-beneficiaries or nonnatives; the legal sale, trade or barter between beneficiaries is permitted, subject to laws of general application. The beluga whales are harvested to meet economic, social and cultural needs of Nunavik Inuit. All hunters are encouraged to harpoon before shooting. Appropriate rifle and shotgun with rifled slugs must be used. Acceptable caliber must produce a muzzle energy of not less than 1500 foot pounds (Article 19 of the Marine Mammal Regulations). Note that it is prohibited to use full metal jacket ammunition. Note that the.222 calibre (or smaller calibre) is not an appropriate rifle since the muzzle energy produced is less than 1500 foot pounds. A minimum of.243 calibre rifle should be used. All other actions that would result in sinking or wounding a whale without being able to retrieve it are prohibited (Article 10.1 of the Marine Mammal Regulations). Anyone who shot and lost a whale must make all efforts to retrieve the wounded or dead whale

11 All whales, killed, wounded or shot and lost, must be reported in the hunt statistics. 4.0 Conservation concerns about abiding by the management plan In order to encourage all communities to abide by the management measures, a hunting plan for each community is required. A communal hunting plan is required from the local LNUK representative for each community before the beginning of the hunting season. This hunting plan is to be submitted to the NMRWB

12 AREAS FOR NORTHERN QUEBEC BELUGA HARVESTING Ungava Bay Allocation Despite the designation of the Eastern Hudson Bay beluga population as Endangered by the COSEWIC an annual Total Allowable Take (TAT) of 9 belugas is established for this area. This hunting will take place in spring and summer only, between April 1 and August 31. Area The Ungava Bay area for beluga hunting is defined as: The waters south of a straight line joining the Southeast tip of Dry Bay at latitude 60 o 25 00" N, longitude 69 o 44 00" W, and the southwest tip of Polunin Inlet at latitude 60 o 09 48" N, longitude 65 o 00 00" W, and North of a straight line joining Point Tasker at latitude 58 o 29 40" N, longitude 67 o 44 00" W, and Cape Kernertut at latitude 58 o 30 00" N, longitude 66 o 56 00" W. Area closed for beluga hunting at all times Mucalic Estuary: is defined as the waters south of a straight line joining Point Tasker at latitude 58 o 29 40" N, longitude 67 o 44 00" W, and Cape Kernertut at latitude 58 o 30 00" N, longitude 66 o 56 00" W (Art. 5, Sch. II of the Marine Mammal Regulations). Other activities such as fishing and camping may continue but must be carried out without disturbing the belugas

13 Hudson Strait Allocation In the light of new scientific information concerning the genetic of belugas captured in Hudson Strait in the past, the Total Allowable Take (TAT) for 2010 is established at 211 belugas, Total Allowable Take (TAT) for the Spring/Summer season is set at 165 belugas and Total Allowable Take (TAT) for the Fall season is set at 46 belugas. The spring/summer season is from April 1 August 31, Area The Hudson Strait area for beluga hunting is defined as: The waters west of straight lines joining the following points at: Latitude Longitude 62 o 10 00" N 78 o 10 00" W 62 o 10 00" N 79 o 10 36" W 62 o 30 00" N 80 o 00 00" W 63 o 00 00" N 77 o 40 00" W 63 o 12 00" N 77 o 00 00" W 63 o 25 00" N 76 o 10 00" W 63 o 15 00" N 74 o 00 00" W 61 o 38 00" N 69 o 00 00" W 61 o 00 00" N 64 o 55 00" W 60 o 09 48" N 65 o 00 00" W 60 o 25 00" N 69 o 44 00" W NOTE: Hudson Strait communities are likely to catch whales from the Eastern Hudson Bay summer beluga population that travel through the Hudson Strait during their fall migrations, as shown by genetic analysis of samples. To help prevent overharvesting of the Eastern Hudson Bay population, it is important that the TAT by season is followed in Hudson Strait in order for the majority of the hunting to take place in the spring/summer season

14 Eastern Hudson Bay Allocation Despite the designation of the Eastern Hudson Bay beluga population as Endangered by the COSEWIC, it is recognized that the beluga is an important component to Nunavik Inuit life, and an annual TAT of 21 belugas is established for this area. For the communities of Akulivik and Puvirnituq, as a trial, the hunt will take place in the Cape Smith area prior to July 1; if that is impossible, the hunt should take place in the Cape Smith area in fall. Area The Eastern Hudson Bay area for beluga hunting is defined as: The waters east of straight lines joining the following points at: Latitude Longitude 62 o 10 00" N 78 o 10 00" W 62 o 10 00" N 79 o 10 36" W 61 o 30 18" N 79 o 40 48" W 58 o 04 37" N 80 o 19 48" W 58 o 00 00" N 79 o 45 00" W 57 o 40 00" N 78 o 00 00" W 57 o 00 00" N 77 o 25 00" W 56 o 22 00" N 77 o 25 00" W 56 o 00 00" N 77 o 30 00" W 55 o 45 00" N 78 o 00 00" W 55 o 15 00" N 79 o 00 00" W 54 o 54 35" N 78 o 45 21" W

15 Areas closed for beluga hunting at all times Nastapoka estuary: Latitude Longitude 56 o 53 35" N 76 o 33 02" W 56 o 53 35" N 76 o 34 05" W 56 o 55 45" N 76 o 35 06" W 56 o 55 45" N 76 o 34 05" W Little Whale River estuary: Latitude Longitude 55 o 59 00" N 76 o 48 13" W 55 o 59 00" N 76 o 49 20" W 56 o 01 15" N 76 o 49 20" W 56 o 01 15" N 76 o 43 48" W Other activities such as fishing and camping may continue but must be carried out without disturbing the belugas

16 Long Island (James Bay North) and James Bay Allocation An annual TAT of 21 belugas is established for Long Island (James Bay North) and James Bay. Areas The Long Island area for beluga hunting is defined as: The waters east of straight lines joining the following points at: Latitude Longitude 54 o 54 35" N 78 o 45 21" W 55 o 15 00" N 79 o 00 00" W 55 o 00 00" N 79 o 45 00" W 55 o 00 00" N 80 o 54 52" W 54 o 38 34" N 79 o 44 48" W The James Bay area for beluga hunting is defined as: The waters east of straight lines joining the following points at: Latitude Longitude 54 o 38 34" N 79 o 44 48" W 55 o 00 00" N 80 o 54 52" W 54 o 30 42" N 81 o 00 24" W 52 o 32 00" N 80 o 00 00" W 52 o 32 00" N 78 o 40 48" W

17 Ottawa Islands Allocation A pilot project began in 2007 and was renewed in 2008 and 2009 in the Ottawa Islands area. Although no catch was indicated in 2009, the pilot project will continue in The annual TAT will be 5 belugas. It is imperative to sample every beluga caught for population identification, contaminants levels and population parameters. If all belugas caught are not sampled or if it is determined that they belong to the Eastern Hudson Bay population, no future hunting would occur in the area. Area The Ottawa Islands area for beluga hunting is defined as: The waters comprised between straight lines joining the following points at: Latitude 62 10'00" N Longitude 79 10'36" W 62 o 30'00" N 80 o 00'00" W 62 o 00'00" N 80 o 45'00" W 58 o 10'00" N 81 o 00'00" W 58 o 04'37" N 81 o 19'48" W 61 o 30 ' 48" N 79 o 40'48" W 62 10'00" N 79 10'36" W

18 Nottingham and Salisbury Islands Allocation A pilot project was created in 2007 and renewed in 2008 and 2009 in the Nottingham and Salisbury Islands area. No beluga hunt was reported in 2007, 2008 nor in 2009 in that area, therefore this pilot project is not renewed in The Nottingham and Salisbury Islands Area is closed for beluga hunting at all times. Area The Nottingham and Salisbury Islands area an area of Equal Use and Occupancy for Inuit of Nunavik and Nunavut is defined as: The waters around the Islands and comprised within the following lines: Latitude 63 25'00" N 63 12'00" N 63 00' 00" N 63 03' 00" N 63 30' 00" N 63 52' 00" N 63 25' 00" N Longitude 76 10' 00" W 77 00' 00" W 77 40' 00" W 78 25' 00" W 78 47' 00" W 77 15' 00" W 76 10' 00" W

19 Belcher Islands / Western Hudson Bay The Belcher Islands (BI) and Western Hudson Bay (WHB) areas are managed by Nunavut Wildlife Management Board (NWMB) and DFO Central and Arctic Region. BI and WHB areas are not part of the Nunavik & Adjacent Waters 2010 Beluga Management Plan. Any request to hunt in Belcher Islands and Western Hudson Bay must be negotiated by Makivik Corporation and NTI and presented to the Nunavut Wildlife Management Board (NWMB) and the Nunavik Marine Region Wildlife Board (NMRWB) for agreement and recommendation to the Minister

20 SUMMARY Nunavik & Adjacent Waters Beluga Management Plan Management measures: Respect of the Total Allowable Take (TAT) for each and every hunting area as well as each season; the Take is the sum of landed and lost & wounded animals; In case of overharvesting in an area, its TAT for the following year could be adjusted to help ensure recovery of beluga populations; Tooth and skin samples must be taken from all animals; samples must be returned by LNUKs (HFTA) to the Nunavik Research Centre; The estuaries of the Mucalic, Nastapoka and Little Whale River remain closed all year; A mandatory Communal Hunting Plan must be submitted to the NMRWB by the RNUK (NHFTA) and LNUKs (HFTA) before authorization to proceed with the hunt; Marine Mammal Regulations prohibit hunting calves and juveniles or females with calves; Nets must be monitored frequently; Belugas must be harpooned before being shot with an appropriate rifle; appropriate equipment must be utilised to retrieve the whales; Note: Full description of Management Measures can be found in the 2010 Beluga Management Plan approved in April

21 BELUGA TOTAL ALLOWABLE TAKE (TAT) PER AREA Area (1) Map Status Period/Note TAT* Ungava Bay Hudson Strait Eastern Hudson Bay Long Island and James Bay A B C OPEN Between spring until August 31 9 CLOSE OPEN Mucalic estuary is closed at all times Spring/Summer Season (April 1 August 31) 165 OPEN Fall Season (Sept. 1 Nov. 30) 46 OPEN CLOSE Spring to fall For Akulivik & Puvirnituq includes 3 belugas each in the Cape Smith area hunting prior to July 1 or in the fall Nastapoka and Little Whale River estuaries are closed at all times D, E OPEN Spring to fall 21 Ottawa Islands F OPEN Ottawa Islands 5 Nottingham & Salisbury Islands G CLOSE Nottingham & Salisbury Islands are closed at all times * Total Allowable Take (TAT) 267 (1) Area will be opened when DFO issues a notice. Area will be closed when TAT is reached; DFO will issue a notice. When area is closed, hunting activity must cease. Belcher Islands & Western Hudson Bay Any request must be negotiated by Makivik Corporation and NTI and presented to the Nunavut Wildlife Management Board (NWMB) and the Nunavik Marine Region Wildlife Board (NMRWB) for agreement and recommendation to the Minister

22 Nunavik & Adjacent Waters 2010 Beluga Management Plan