Bowhead whales are hunted by Inuit communities in Alaska, Canada and Greenland under subsistence rights, with ongoing efforts to improve hunting methods to reduce welfare impacts.
Bowhead whale hunting involves initial striking followed by secondary killing, with time-to-death varying widely depending on strike accuracy. A prolonged death over 30-60 minutes represents substantial welfare harm for an animal with complex neurological organisation. The IWC's humane killing research has supported improvements including penthrite-tipped grenade harpoons that reduce time-to-death when striking accurately. Subsistence rights and cultural context must be weighed alongside welfare considerations in policy.