Nunavut Wildlife Management Board wraps up caribou consultations

The Nunavut government is looking at what to do about theBluenose East and theBathurstcaribou herds, which have declineddramatically in recentyears.

Officials recently wrapped up consultations about the issue.

The Bathurst herd, which numbered about half a million in the mid-1980s, hasdeclined to between16,000 and 22,000 animals in 2015.

The BluenoseEast herd has declined from about 100,000 caribou in 2000to between 35,000 and 40,000 caribou in 2015.

• N.W.T. caribou populations continue to decline, survey shows

In a recommendation to the Nunavut Wildlife Management Board,the Government of Nunavut proposed quotas for both herds: 340 bulls for the Bluenose East caribouand 30 for the Bathurstherd. It's the first time Nunavuthasrecommended a hunting quota for these herds.

LarryAdjun, chair of the Hunters and Trappers Organization inKugluktuk, says they're on board with the Bluenose East quota but they want to manage the plan themselves, and not be told what to do by the government.

"The problem is, the GN after our submission, they came to the conclusion that our proposal and plan is just as close as the GN's. We're all working towards contribution but our problem is we weren't given the opportunity to exercise our right under the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement."

The agreement gives HTOs the power to regulate the harvest among its members.

Dan Shewchuck, chair of the NunavutWildlife Management Board,says they'll take into account the needs of Nunavut hunters, while also considering the hunting bans and quotas already set in the N.W.T.

The NWMB has set a September target to decide on its recommendations.