WRRB releases Reasons for Decision report on Proposed Management Actions for Bathurst Caribou in Wek’èezhìı

YELLOWKNIFE (May 26, 2016) – The Wek’èezhìı Renewable Resources Board (WRRB) submitted its Reasons for Decision report, Part A, on the management of the Bathurst caribou herd for 2016 to 2019 to the Tłı̨chǫ Government and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (ENR), Government of the Northwest Territories today.

The report addresses management actions proposed by the Tłı̨chǫ Government and ENR in their Joint Proposal on Caribou Management Actions for the Bathurst Herd: 2016-2019, which was submitted to the Board in December 2015.  The proposed management actions included the closure of all harvesting of the Bathurst caribou herd, wolf management actions, and ongoing biological monitoring.

The WRRB is responsible for wildlife management in Wek’èezhìı and shares responsibility for managing and monitoring the Bathurst caribou herd.  Based on all available Aboriginal and scientific evidence, the WRRB concluded that a serious conservation concern exists for the Bathurst caribou.  The Board believes that the herd is in crisis given the continuing decline in the breeding females, poor breeding rates, impacts of environmental factors, and extensive exploration and development on the herd’s annual range.  Therefore, the Board determined that a total allowable harvest of zero shall be implemented for all users of the Bathurst caribou herd within Wek’èezhìı for 2016 to 2019. 

The Board also recommended compliance monitoring by community monitors and wildlife officers, as well as increased communications and public education programs.  Additionally, the Board recommended the implementation of the Tłı̨chǫ Government’s community-based wolf harvesting project and the timely completion of a wolf feasibility assessment.

Part B of the Reasons for Decision report will address additional predator management actions, biological and environmental monitoring, and cumulative effects, and will be submitted to the Tłı̨chǫ Government and ENR in August 2016. 

Additional information on the WRRB’s Reasons for Decision report, Part A, can be found in the attached Backgrounder.  The report is available on the Public Registry at http://wrrb.ca/public-information/public-registry

For more information, please contact:

Grant Pryznyk, Chair

Wek’èezhìı Renewable Resources Board

T:  867-873-5740