Yellowknife (Jan 10/07) - Environment and Natural Resources announced Monday that 750 caribou tags would be allotted to barren-ground outfitters for the 2007 season.

Though it's a marked increase from the 350 tags Environment and Natural Resources proposed in its Dec. 2006 recommendations to the Wek'eezhii Renewable Resources Board, outfitters said it's not enough to sustain the $4 million-a-year industry.

"Outfitters indicated to us that they were headed off to their marketing shows in the next while and they needed some certainty and we've tried to provide them with it," said Bob Bailey, Deputy Minister of ENR, conceding that in a Tuesday meeting with outfitters, they indicated 750 was not sufficient.

Last year, barren ground outfitters had 1559 tags but used 727. Jim Peterson of Peterson's Point Lake Lodge, who was at the meeting, told Yellowknifer the number of tags used was no indication of hunters' demand.

"The (caribou's) migration was off and therefore the harvest wasn't as much," Peterson said adding the bathurst caribou stayed further north than usual due to warmer weather. Therefore outfitters may have sold two tags but in some cases hunters were only able to harvest one animal.

Boyd Warner, owner of Adventure Northwest Ltd.

outfitters, also attended the meeting and concluded the territorial government's latest move would still scuttle the industry.

"The fact they're not waiting for the Wek'eezhii Renewable Resources Board's public hearings for an informed decision, we can only conclude (ENR's) intentions are to wipe out the outfitters, they're not even following the process they suggested," he said.

However, Bailey said the proposals to WRRB still stood and the 750 allotment was an interim measure.

"Our proposal to the Wek'eezhii (Renewable Resources Board) is still on the table and we'll deal with that as the future unfolds," said Bailey noting the final decision rests with the minister. "We will pay very close attention to what the board says and weigh it very carefully... the minister is still responsible for wildlife management."

Interim Executive Director of the WRRB Rob Marshall told Yellowknifer that

that the board was, "Heading towards some type of hearing," on the matter that would likely be in March.

The board, which has had quorum since February 2006, is made up of representatives from the Tlicho, territorial and federal government appointees.

As any WRRB recommendations to the territorial government would not come soon enough to affect the 2007 sporthunting season, outfitters will have to make do with 750 caribou tags. It's a situation Warner and his outfitting colleagues are not pleased about.

"The new NWT Tourism Act says there's a $25,000 fine and six years in prison for anybody that hurts the reputation of tourism here," said Warner. "So I'm wondering if that applies to cabinet ministers too."