Hunting

Narwhals, with their relatively small size and elusive nature, were never hunted as extensively as other species of whale. Targeted for their horns, around three thousand were once caught in Canada annually, but it was believed that not enough of a dent was made by whalers to render the species endangered. More recently, conservationalists have become concerned over narwhal's dwindling numbers, and have lobbied for more strict hunting regulations.

Narwhals are considered a great delicacy by the Inuit, who feast upon the raw skin with a thin layer of blubber still attached. This dish is known as mattak or muktuk. Narwhal blubber and oil are often used for fuel, and the tusk, though not of direct use to the Inuit, becomes a profitable source of income when sold to tourists. Between 330 and 550 narwhals are harvested by the Inuit in Canadian Arctic annually. In the Thule district, narwhal are hunted the traditional way: with a harpoon from a kayak. Elsewhere, however, Inuit hunters use motorboats and high-powered rifles.