Caribou harvest hearing adjourned
Parties tasking with setting total allowable harvest waiting for GN
Miranda Scotland
Northern News Services
Published Monday, December 23, 2013
NUNAVUT
Discussions on setting a total allowable harvest (TAH) for Southampton caribou were put on hold earlier this month as a result of the Government of Nunavut's unwillingness to put its cards on the table.
This is the first time a determination was being made on a total allowable harvest for the Coral Harbour caribou population outside of the minister of the Environment's temporary order to cap the 2012/2013 harvest at 1,000 caribou.
James Arreak, who was minister at the time, made the decision as a result of the severe decline in the caribou population.
At its peak the herd numbered 30,000, but the current population sits at about 7,000.
The Nunavut Wildlife Management Board (NWMB) held a public hearing Dec. 10 and 11 in Iqaluit to discuss setting a total allowable harvest of 800 animals.
Representatives from the Aiviit Hunters and Trappers Organization, the Government of Nunavut and Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. were present, along with members of HTOs from around the territory.
In determining a total allowable harvest for the first time, parties also have to strike a basic needs level - the number of caribou Inuit are guaranteed first access to - as laid out in the Nunavut Land Claim Agreement.
The basic needs level proved to be a point of contention for the parties involved in the hearing.
The NWMB and NTI both maintain that the level should include the Inuit commercial harvest.
The GN, on the other hand, is refusing to comment, said Glenn Williams, senior policy adviser with NTI.
"Everyone feels it's procedurally inappropriate," said Williams, explaining why it's of particular concern.
"When the NWMB makes that decision and gives it to your minister, your minister then has 30 days to either accept or reject it and we don't have an opportunity to challenge or question your position at that point.
"So it's not part of the public decision making process. That's why we want them to be forthright and to say this is our position."
The case is significant in that it will set a precedent for calculating the basic needs level for other species.
The controversy over including the commercial harvest dates back to
the 1990s when the Southampton caribou harvest
study was conducted.
At that time, the steering committee made a decision not to collect numbers on the Inuit commercial harvest outside of the territory.
"Since then NTI has challenged that policy decision and we've submitted legal opinions," said Williams.
NTI is suggesting the basic needs level, which can be higher or lower than the total allowable harvest, for Southampton caribou be set at 4,325 or 4,165.
The hearing is expected to resume in March.
Williams said he is hopeful the GN will reveal its position by that time.
If it doesn't, he said, the parties will have to explore other options.
A representative from the GN could not be reached for comment.
