The Reindeer Husbandry Board has observed that the number of reindeer in West Finnmark has been increasing over several years, after being at a desirable level fifteen years ago. According to NRK, Inge Ryan, board chair of the Reindeer Husbandry Board, described that the reindeer population has started to increase again now. In March, the board handled reduction cases, examining whether reindeer grazing districts stay within set limits for animal numbers or if measures are needed to adjust herd size, with the goal of districts deciding themselves how to reduce to the set reindeer numbers.
Implementation challenges have emerged, as five districts failed to agree on how to reduce reindeer numbers or had insufficient reduction plans, according to the Reindeer Husbandry Board. For two districts, Láhtin and Spierttanjárgga, the board approved the siidas' own reduction plans. For the five districts without approved plans, the board used the Reindeer Husbandry Act, which requires all siida shares in the relevant districts to have equal reindeer numbers.
But now we see that the reindeer number has started to increase again.
The district that must cut the most reindeer is Ábborášša, needing to cut over 2,200 animals, and the Reindeer Husbandry Board did not approve Ábborášša's reduction plan. According to NRK, Inga Biret Márjá Triumf, a leader in Ábborášša, described this as a catastrophe for reindeer husbandry and a major overreach. In broader context, the parties to the recently negotiated reindeer husbandry agreement have set a target of 71,000 slaughter reindeer for the 2026/2027 season.
Reported reindeer numbers show that the reindeer population in Finnmark exceeds the set limit in several reindeer grazing districts. These districts are now being followed up by the Reindeer Husbandry Board under the new reduction provisions of the Reindeer Husbandry Act.
This is a catastrophe for reindeer husbandry, and a major overreach.
Also, there are people from outside who are going to decide how we should operate with reindeer, and what is best for our district.
They have three years to do this. It is set up for a very small number the first year, so that one has time to plan the delivery of slaughter. Then one takes a much larger number the second year, and the rest the third year.