Inuvik (Sep 15/06) - Caribou medallions have been a popular item on the menu at the Sunburst Bistro since Brad Olynyk started the business a little over a year ago.

But with more news of dwindling caribou herds and new hunt restrictions looming, he is no longer able to satisfy tourists' craving for country foods.

Inuvik chef Brad Olynyk can't serve caribou at the Sunburst Bistro any more. He said this is regrettable, because it's the first thing tourists ask for. - Philippe Morin/NNSL photo Caribou numbers still falling Cape Bathurst - In 1992 the herd was estimated to number 17,500. That fell to about 2,400 in 2005 and a new survey done this year estimates the herd had dropped to 1,800. Bluenose West - The herd declined from an estimate of 98,900 in 1987 to 20,800 in 2005. This year, the herd was estimated at 18,000. Bluenose East - A survey done this year estimates the herd is at 66,200, down slightly from 66,000 last year. In 2000, the herd numbered about 104,000 animals. Tuktoyaktuk Peninsula - A visual survey of the area in September 2005 put the number of animals at 3,900 caribou and reindeer. A July 2006 photographic survey counted 3,100 animals, of which approximately 80 per cent are reindeer. - Source: Department of Environment and Natural ResourcesBYLINE: by

"Caribou is the first thing tourists ask for," he said.

Olynyk has had to turn to offering muskox and other meats instead.

The Wildlife Management Advisory Council, which advises government on wildlife issues in the Inuvialuit settlement region, met with environment department officials last week to review a new count of Barren-ground caribou herds - Cape Bathurst, Bluenose-West and Bluenose-East and Tuktoyaktuk Peninsula herds.

The board learned that a July 2006 photographic survey showed all four herds have continued to fall. This survey followed a 2005 census that showed numbers had declined significantly in the past few years.

As a result of the 2005 survey, resident, non-resident and commercial hunts on the Cape Bathurst herd were closed.

This past Friday, the advisory council said in a press release that further restrictions are being considered.

That could affect hunts in Inuvik, Aklavik, Paulatuk and Tuktoyaktuk.

While officials might limit the caribou hunt even more, restaurant owners like Olynyk say the new restrictions likely won't make much difference, because the bistro hasn't served caribou in six months.

"We served it while we had it, but with these restrictions we had to change," he said.

Jeff Otto, who manages the Delta Meats store at the Inuvik regional airport, also said caribou meat is very rare.

"Whatever caribou I have is for special occasions," he said. "Most of what I sell is muskox."

Otto estimated that caribou currently accounts for 10 per cent of his sales.

However, he said demand for the meat was very high, and that some tourists said they were surprised at its price.

"Most of what I sell is to people leaving the territory," he said.

As of press time, no comment from the NWT's Wildlife Management Advisory Council was available. If their recommendations are accepted by the territorial government, it is unknown how long the ban on the commercial caribou hunt might last.