Mr. Speaker, I rise in the House today to update the people of the Northwest Territories on management actions for barren ground caribou herds.

The new population estimates for the Beverly and Ahiak caribou herds, led by the Government of Nunavut, highlight the need for regular surveys and monitoring so we have a clear picture of herd status and can identify changes and deal with them in a timely manner.

The last calving ground survey of the Beverly herd was done in June 1994 and the herd was estimated at 276,000 animals. The survey done in June 2011 estimated 124,000 in the Beverly herd and 83,000 in the Ahiak herd. Results of other analysis done on these two herds suggest the Beverly herd has shifted its calving area about 200 to 300 kilometres north of its previous known area.

Mr. Speaker, we may never know the reason for this shift in the calving area or changes in numbers because of the limited monitoring of the herd in the past 20 years. This illustrates the critical need for ongoing monitoring so co-management partners can effectively manage caribou herds to meet the needs of current and future generations.

These new population estimates are good news. We plan on developing a proposal for a limited resident harvest of the Beverly and Ahiak herds for consideration by the Beverly and Qamanirjuaq Caribou Management Board.

Another proposal for a limited resident harvest of the Bluenose-East herd is also being developed for consideration by the Sahtu, Gwich’in and Wek’eezhìi Renewable Resources Boards and the Wildlife Management Advisory Council.

We will implement the co-management boards’ recommendations on management actions for these herds during the fall of 2013.

Planning is already underway to conduct a population survey of the Bluenose-East herd this June. The last survey was completed in June 2010.

We continue to work with the Tlicho Government on joint proposal on management actions for the Bathurst herd during the next three years. This proposal will be submitted to the Wek’eezhìi Renewable Resources Board this spring. The department will also be discussing the proposal with the Yellowknives Dene First Nation and the NWT Metis Nation. We will implement recommendations from the board this fall.

A recruitment survey of the Bathurst herd is also planned for April. This survey will provide information on calf recruitment and cow:calf ratios. This information is important in determining the trend in the herd’s population between population surveys.

Mr. Speaker, given the importance of caribou to the people of the Northwest Territories, our government is committed to working with our co-management partners to ensure regular monitoring of the herds is done for the effective management of this valuable resource. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.