Published 2:52 pm Thursday, August 13, 2026 By William Koblensky Varela Local Journalism Initiative Northern News Service The Government of Nunavut has approved a recommendation from the Nunavut Wildlife Management Board to increase the maximum allowable harvest of caribou on Baffin Island to 6,000, from the previous limit of 550. This limit applies to the current hunting season, which runs from July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027. Restrictions on harvesting female caribou, which were put in place to allow more births in herds, has been eliminated. Increasing the harvest limit follows an explosion in population for Baffin Island caribou. The herds have grown to 48,000, more than 10 times the population recorded in 2014. “This increase provides expanded harvesting opportunities for Nunavummiut while ensuring the long-term sustainability of the Baffin Island caribou population,” stated Estela Aguilar, manager of communications for the Department of Environment, on Aug. 13. The GN had recommended the increase to the Nunavut Wildlife Management Board back in June. In its July 7 news release, the Nunavut Wildlife Management Board said the new 6,000 animal harvest limit represented 12.3 per cent of the Baffin Island caribou population. That carries a bigger risk than the board’s previous policy of allowing the harvest of five per cent of Baffin Island caribou, the board acknowledged. “However, Government of Nunavut staff also advised that, if the herd continues to grow at approximately 25 per cent annually, a 12.3 per cent harvest rate would not be expected to halt population growth,” the board stated in its decision. Baffin Island caribou are rapidly increasing in population due to a declining population of wolves, according to a study from Northern Caribou Canada. The harvest limit will increase by 125 each year, beginning on July 1, 2027. Hunters and trappers organizations in each Nunavut community allocate their share of the total allowable harvest to community members. Hunting without an allocation is an offence under the Wildlife Act and could result in a fine. In 2014, there were only 4,600 caribou on Baffin Island and the total allowable harvest was 250 caribou for that year, according to a Nunavut Wildlife Management Board document. That limit increased to 350 in 2023, 400 in 2024, and 500 in 2025, an order from the Department of Justice shows. Harvests were planned to continue rising by 50 caribou per year until 2032 under that order.
Baffin Island caribou harvest limit increase to 6,000 from 550 approved by GN
