March 1, 2016 – The Beverly and Qamanirjuaq Caribou Management Board (BQCMB) recently published the Winter 2016 edition of Caribou News in Brief. The lead story – Sounding the Alarm on Qamanirjuaq Caribou – explores the results of the most recent population survey of the Qamanirjuaq herd, which was completed in June 2014.
The size of the herd in 2014 was estimated to be about 264,700, based on the total number of adult female caribou in the herd. This is a significant decline from the June 2008 population size of about 344,100—about 23% overall, or 4% per year on average.
Based on information currently available to the BQCMB, the Board believes that any further decline in herd size will reduce the sustainable harvest below the estimated basic needs level. This would be a major problem for the herd and for harvesters of Qamanirjuaq caribou.
One major threat to the herd is the amount of caribou meat being sold over the Internet, an extra harvest that is putting more pressure on the herd. But many other threats need to be evaluated in order to accurately determine the vulnerability of the herd.
The results of a Qamanirjuaq Vulnerability Assessment will be discussed by the BQCMB during its next meeting in Saskatoon from May 10-12. This assessment will provide an even clearer picture and support the Board recommendations for conservation of Qamanirjuaq caribou and habitat.
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The BQCMB is a co-management advisory board that helps manage the Beverly and Qamanirjuaq caribou herds, which migrate across Manitoba, Saskatchewan, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut. The majority of board members represent Aboriginal communities and all board members live in northern Canada.
For more information, contact:
Ross Thompson
BQCMB Executive Director
Email: rossthompson@mymts.net
or
Lynne Bereza
Editor, Caribou News in Brief
Email: caribounews@outlook.com
