In response to the January 20, 2012 announcement from Manitoba Conservation regarding a partial conservation hunting closure in Game Hunting Area (GHA) 26 including Nopiming Provincial Park, Manitoba Wildlife Federation is asking that the Minister of Conservation and Water Stewardship re-examine this issue and implement a full conservation closure.
In the past 10 years, the moose population in GHA 26 has experienced a 60% decline. Manitoba Conservation suspects that a rising wolf population is the primary problem, but also contributing to it are disease, parasites, hunting (both legal, illegal and rights-based) and increased access to the region’s more remote parts, caused largely by the building of new roads.
“A partial conservation closure is an abject failure on the part of Manitoba Conservation to protect the moose population in this area”, said Reid Woods, President of Manitoba Wildlife Federation. “It is contrary to Manitoba Conservation’s own modeling which shows that without a complete closure, moose could potentially be eliminated from GHA 26 by 2017”.
The moose population in Manitoba is at a critical tipping point, similar to the situation faced by Manitoba’s Woodland Caribou population many years ago. Preventative measures were not taken at that time, and in 2006, Caribou finally garnered protected status under the province’s Endangered Species Act.
Manitoba Conservation has failed to uphold their fiduciary duty to prevent possible extirpation of the moose population, and in so doing, have also failed to protect the rights of all peoples of Manitoba. “A partial closure violates the Precautionary Principal, a principle that has been adopted by the Government of Manitoba. If immediate action towards a full closure is not taken, the repercussions could include dire consequences for our provincial moose population” stated Woods.
In 2011, the Cooperative Committee for Moose Management recommended to the Conservation Minister that a total conservation closure be instituted in GHA 26. However, no action was taken by Manitoba. The Committee is comprised of representatives from a broad cross section of stakeholder groups: Manitoba Metis Federation, Manitoba Conservation, Manitoba Trappers Association, Manitoba Model Forest, Manitoba Hydro, Hollow Water First Nation, Black River First Nation, Sagkeeng First Nation, Community of Manigotagan, Community of Bissett, Lac du Bonnet Wildlife Association, Brokenhead River Game and Fish Association, Winnipeg River Bow Hunters Association, Pinawa Wildlife Association, and Manitoba Wildlife Federation.
For information on Manitoba’s partial hunting closure, refer to the Government of Manitoba’s January 20, 2012 media release: http://www.gov.mb.ca/chc/press/top/2012/01/2012-01-20-140700-13048.html
(Source: Manitoba Wildlife Federation, January 26, 2012)
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MWF demands full conservation closure in GHA 26 to protect moose
In the past 10 years, the moose population in GHA 26 has experienced a 60% decline. Manitoba Conservation suspects that a rising wolf population is the primary problem, but also contributing to it are disease, parasites, hunting (both legal, illegal and rights-based) and increased access to the region’s more remote parts, caused largely by the building of new roads.
“A partial conservation closure is an abject failure on the part of Manitoba Conservation to protect the moose population in this area”, said Reid Woods, President of Manitoba Wildlife Federation. “It is contrary to Manitoba Conservation’s own modeling which shows that without a complete closure, moose could potentially be eliminated from GHA 26 by 2017”.
The moose population in Manitoba is at a critical tipping point, similar to the situation faced by Manitoba’s Woodland Caribou population many years ago. Preventative measures were not taken at that time, and in 2006, Caribou finally garnered protected status under the province’s Endangered Species Act.
Manitoba Conservation has failed to uphold their fiduciary duty to prevent possible extirpation of the moose population, and in so doing, have also failed to protect the rights of all peoples of Manitoba. “A partial closure violates the Precautionary Principal, a principle that has been adopted by the Government of Manitoba. If immediate action towards a full closure is not taken, the repercussions could include dire consequences for our provincial moose population” stated Woods.
In 2011, the Cooperative Committee for Moose Management recommended to the Conservation Minister that a total conservation closure be instituted in GHA 26. However, no action was taken by Manitoba. The Committee is comprised of representatives from a broad cross section of stakeholder groups: Manitoba Metis Federation, Manitoba Conservation, Manitoba Trappers Association, Manitoba Model Forest, Manitoba Hydro, Hollow Water First Nation, Black River First Nation, Sagkeeng First Nation, Community of Manigotagan, Community of Bissett, Lac du Bonnet Wildlife Association, Brokenhead River Game and Fish Association, Winnipeg River Bow Hunters Association, Pinawa Wildlife Association, and Manitoba Wildlife Federation.
For information on Manitoba’s partial hunting closure, refer to the Government of Manitoba’s January 20, 2012 media release: http://www.gov.mb.ca/chc/press/top/2012/01/2012-01-20-140700-13048.html
(Source: Manitoba Wildlife Federation, January 26, 2012)