Sale of Caribou Meat
One ongoing issue in collecting accurate harvest numbers in Nunavut is the sale of caribou meat being facilitated by social media and the amount being transported by airline companies. The BQCMB knows these factors are contributing to increasing harvest levels, and has worked to influence airline companies to provide information about how much caribou meat they are shipping.
According to information provided by Calm Air in 2018, the number of people using their airline to ship caribou meat has declined. However, airlines that continue to offer free or subsidized shipping rates contribute to the problem.
The BQCMB also observed an increase in social pressures against people using the Internet for selling caribou meat. People who are traditional hunters and those who are aware that the Qamanirjuaq herd is declining are reproaching those selling meat, and that may be helping to take the pressure off the herd.
However, until there is compliance by all airlines to report shipping numbers, the BQCMB will be unable to obtain an accurate figure for the amount of caribou meat being shipped each year in order to make recommendations for harvest.
People who are traditional hunters and those who are aware that the Qamanirjuaq herd is declining are reproaching those selling meat, and that may be helping to take the pressure off the herd.
