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CORAL HARBOUR
The Southampton caribou herd still has a chance to survive, despite a dramatic reduction in its numbers found during a survey earlier this summer, said Mitch Campbell.

The Kivalliq biologist for the Government of Nunavut (GN) said the herd's population has dropped to about 6,200 since a 2011 survey put its numbers at 7,800.

He said Coral Harbour is aware of the results and he's meeting with residents this week to discuss the survey.

"Basically, I'm informing them the risk to the caribou population at the current total allowable harvest (TAH) of 1,000 is extremely high," said Campbell.

"In fact, that number is probably unsustainable.

"It's a tricky situation because even though members of the Aiviit Hunters and Trappers Organization (HTO) support lowering the TAH, they know if it's done the wrong way, the community will thumb its nose at us.

"So I'm trying to convince the community to reduce its quota voluntarily."

Campbell said the Southampton herd is in grave peril at only 6,200 animals.

He said he was shocked by the statistically significant decline seen on the survey.

"I expected a decline, but I didn't think I'd be able to prove it statistically because of the variability of the result.

"But we saw a highly significant change that left no doubt the population has seriously declined since 2011."

Campbell said there would never have been a TAH if not for the Coral HTO, and that has him guardedly optimistic moving forward.

He said the HTO forced the Nunavut Wildlife Management Board's hand in implementing the TAH.

"We're trying to do this in a partnered, co-management environment so the co-managers agree with the direction we take.

"I discussed the survey results with HTO members and they agreed with our estimates and everything we put forward.

"But, at the same time, they made it clear they weren't sure if the public would accept it."

Campbell said the HTO is trying to keep the system from going into chaos.

He said most people seem to accept what's going on, even if they don't like it.

"If we do things in an erratic manner and just throw numbers out there, people will get mad and stop listening.

"But the community is at high risk of having the TAH substantially reduced, or a harvest moratorium put in place next year, if the current level of harvesting keeps going.

"I might go to Coral next year and recommend the quota be reduced to 200 if survey results warrant it."

Campbell said the HTO wants another survey done in 2013 for trend information, so the GN is trying to figure out a cost-effective way of doing it.

He said surveys are expensive, but the HTO is right to want continued results.

"Nobody wanted the TAH until the 2012 survey, then it was only a matter of weeks before the ministerial management initiative came out and there was a quota set.

"Ongoing tracking is required of this herd's numbers, so I'm going to forward our proposal to my research section and ask for approval to go ahead."

Campbell said management recommendations have been very good so far.

He said the process is constantly being fine tuned and, if a 2013 survey produces another data point showing 1,000 is not sustainable, his department will be confident in recommending a new number.

"I'm worried that might be around 100 or 200 animals, or a recommendation to stop the harvest.

"If so, the HTO would have to bring it forward and I honestly believe it will."

The current 1,000 TAH runs between June of 2012 to June of 2013.

Campbell said now that the GN knows the herd's numbers are worse than feared, researchers have to account for the mortality in the equation.

He said every cause is not known, but, whether it was the export of meat or a disease, more animals are dying than they thought.

"We don't know how many caribou were being locally harvested because there was no required reporting until now, and we don't know what the exports were because they were shielding that.

"Except for a few bits and pieces we were able to glean, nobody was willing to give us any information."

Despite the silence of many in Coral, Campbell said researchers know the bulk of the harvested animals this past winter were probably pregnant females because a premium was being paid for meat with fat on it.

He said that's like trying to fly a radio-controlled airplane while continually removing its batteries.

"Sooner or later it's going to fall from the sky because you have to keep adding new batteries, not taking them out.

"But we have a proactive HTO in Coral, and I've been very proud to work with its members.

"They're taking a lot of hits to the chin while asking us to support them, so that's what I intend to keep doing."

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