Anyone else get the letter from Tom Ethier this morning? Seems like they're still trying to convince us the new allocation is a good thing......
Your correspondence to the Honourable Christy Clark, Premier of British Columbia and Honourable Steve Thomson, Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations, regarding British Columbia wildlife allocation, has been forwarded to me for a response.
When considering allocation, it is important to note that resident hunters harvest about 92 percent of the approximately 48,000 big game animals taken annually by hunters in British Columbia. Of these 48,000 big game animals, about 7,500 are animals managed by allocation. The minister’s allocation decision is estimated to move 60 of the allocated big game animals to guide-outfitter hunts.
Allocation is only required for species in areas that cannot be managed solely by general open season, and only in the parts of British Columbia covered by guiding territories. Many popular big game species are completely untouched, province wide, by allocation policies, including mule deer, white-tailed deer, wolf, most Rocky Mountain elk populations and black bear. In the parts of British Columbia not covered by guiding territories, approximately 20 percent of the province and mostly in the southern half and north east, resident hunters and those that accompany them have access to 100 percent of the harvest.
Resident hunters are recognized as having a harvesting priority over non-resident hunters. Hunting and fishing is a key part of many British Columbian families’ lives and the ministry is committed to keeping it this way. In fact, the increase in resident hunters from 82,000 ten years ago to over 102,000 today is in part because of resident hunter recruitment and retention strategies introduced and implemented over the last 10 years.
The decision on wildlife-harvest allocation also reflects the government’s commitment to resident hunters. Under the decision, resident hunters continue to be recognized as having priority over non-resident hunters and will continue to harvest approximately 92 percent annually. Resident hunters make an important contribution toward the economy in this province and make large and ongoing contributions to wildlife stewardship.
The guide outfitter industry also plays a valuable role, encouraging tourism and providing income for British Columbia residents and families. Out-of-province guide-outfitter clients are some of the highest spending tourists per capita in British Columbia. These clients also pay fees and surcharges that benefit the province and Habitat Conservation Trust Fund, and royalties to the province. The ministry remains committed to maintaining the viability of the guide outfitter industry while ensuring resident priority.
Between 2013 and late fall 2014, representatives from the BCWF and GOABC met with ministry staff to review allocation policy and make recommendations on how to improve wildlife allocation. Recommendations forwarded to the Minister by GOABC and BCWF included replacing policies and procedures developed in 2007 with set allocation splits. The minister endorsed the recommendation to have set splits in order to achieve certainty and stability in wildlife allocation. These set splits reflect a balanced approach to allocation, with neither the BCWF nor GOABC receiving the splits they requested.
Government’s intent is for a consistent and transparent policy that is fair to all wildlife user groups, where conservation comes first, First Nations’ harvesting interests are met, and resident hunters receive priority allocation. The harvest allocation decision meets this intent, and will ensure that the $350 million that hunting brings to the British Columbia economy (from both guides and residents) continues to be viable for years to come. Now that a decision is made, the ministry is hopeful that resident hunters and the guide outfitter community can work together with government to focus on the mutual goals of all hunters: wildlife and habitat conservation, and ensuring sustainable and improved hunting opportunities.
Thank you for your interest in the management of wildlife in British Columbia. For more information on wildlife harvest allocation, I ask you to please visit, and encourage other concerned residents to visit, the Wildlife Harvest Allocation Decision 2015 Frequently Asked Questions document, available online at:
http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/fw/wildlife...n-2015-FAQ.pdf .
Sincerely,
Tom Ethier
Assistant Deputy Minister
Resource Stewardship Division
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