Community-based Fish and Wildlife Work-Plan Developed for Carcross / Tagish

Wednesday, 16 December 2020 14:15

The plan addresses a range of topics, including caribou and bear management, increased angling and harvest pressure on fish populations, habitat degradation resulting from recreational access, and ways to better share and celebrate traditional knowledge.

The first community-based fish and wildlife work plan for the Carcross/Tagish Traditional Territory has been developed in collaboration between the Government of Yukon, Carcross/Tagish First Nation and the Carcross/Tagish Renewable Resources Council.

Highlights of the plan include:

increased education and outreach with residents, non-residents and First Nation citizens on live release practices for fish and the need for selective harvest tools for fish management;
expanded efforts to reach out to communities on caribou recovery;
development of a community strategy to address grizzly bear concerns and human/bear relationships;
coordinated action to address the impacts of recreational user groups and access on wildlife; and
assigning a dedicated a conservation officer to service the Carcross and Tagish areas.

The plan honours the direction from the Carcross/Tagish Final Agreement, builds on previous work and includes new ideas brought forward by the community. Within the plan, all things are considered cumulatively and holistically, recognizing that everything is inter-connected.

"This work plan reflects a collaborative approach to the management of wild species and their habitats in the Carcross/Tagish Traditional Territory. We are pleased to work with the Carcross/Tagish First Nation and the Carcross/Tagish Renewable Resources Council on this important initiatve. We look forward to working together on priorities outlined in the plan, including the establishing a dedicated a conservation officer for the Carcross and Tagish areas." Minister of Environment Pauline Frost

"Our fish and wildlife are part of who we are as people. Their health and wellbeing reflect directly on ours. We thank the Carcross/Tagish Renewable Resources Council and the Government of Yukon for their help in developing this community-based plan." Carcross/Tagish First Nation Haa Shaa du Hen Lynda Dickson

"This plan will set the stage for a cooperative approach to fish and wildlife management programs in the Southern Lakes by the Yukon government, Carcross/Tagish First Nation, Carcross/Tagish Renewable Resources Council, resource users and the public over the next 5 years." Carcross/Tagish Renewable Resources Council Chair Ken Reeder