It's About the Resources

By Regis Tremblay

The same old tired arguments have been raging for decades around whose responsibility it is to take care of Maine’s natural resources. In other words, who should pay? Meanwhile, our natural resources, our heritage, and our beautiful home face enormous challenges to survive.

Sportsmen have carried the burden of funding the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife through license fees and registrations. But, like it or not, times have changed. The mission of fish and wildlife agencies has changed as they faced new challenges and responsibilities. Of necessity, they had to evolve along with the rest of society.

Let me be clear: it is no longer about fish and game and sportsmen’s rights.

It is not about, and has never been about, mismanagement of the resources. The 300 people who work for the Department have dedicated their lives to the conservation of all that we hold dear. They are biologists who manage all wildlife and their habitat. They are the Game Wardens who enforce the laws that the people of Maine have enacted to protect wildlife and the habitat, and who provide public safety services to all Mainer's and visitors in the outdoors.

Management positions in the Department are a fraction of what exists in other agencies, and even the private sector. IF&W has been a lean and mean agency, out of necessity, since its beginnings in the late 1800’s. It has never been a top heavy organization, but without doubt, there are many ways that it can and must improve.

It is now about diminished habitat, fragmentation from development, ecosystem management, and all wildlife, not just game. The mission of IF&W has grown because of state and federal mandates, changes in public awareness, participation in outdoor recreational activities, and local politics. Historically, our management efforts began out of necessity from unchecked hunting pressure.

Over the years, most of our game and non-game management has been encouraged and supported by those sportsmen who saw the need to protect these valuable resources in perpetuity. With all of this change, the fish and game model is also changing because the numbers of hunters has declined, the number of anglers has risen only slightly and consequently, the sale of licenses has not kept up with the exponential rise in the cost of doing business.

Meanwhile, the activities of environmentalists, conservationists, animal rights groups, and outdoor recreational activists now far out number the activities of hunters, trappers, and anglers. Now, a much larger and diverse majority is calling attention to the need for protecting Maine’s natural resources. According to the 2006 U.S. Fish and Wildlife National Survey, there are 801,000 people in Maine who are involved in the following outdoor activities: wildlife watching, hiking, canoeing and kayaking, riding snowmobiles and ATVs, camping and whitewater rafting, and they contribute more than $1.3 Billion annually to Maine’s economy.

By contrast, the same U.S. Fish and Wildlife Survey reported that there are 526,000 hunters, trappers, and anglers in our state, and they contribute approximately $500 Million annually to our economy.

Like it or not, the hunting and fishing community is now dwarfed by the all of those who use the natural resources to recreate and enjoy. These users of the resources far outnumber sportsmen in terms of economics, participants, and political clout. To put it as simply as possible, the natural resources belong to them as well, and they are imposing their will on the politics of managing those resources.

The fact of the matter is, there are far more people in Maine who enjoy the outdoors than sportsmen who hunt, trap, and fish. In terms of politics, their numbers are reflected in the people they elect to the state house in Augusta to determine public policy and make laws. This has created a tension and a divide that has resulted in adversarial relationships and pitched battles over secondary issues. Furthermore, the outcomes of the political process no longer favor sportsmen, but threaten their heritage, way of life, and for many, their livelihoods.

The answer is NOT a pitched battle against an enemy army of infidels. Neither will it be found in the political process, nor fundraising gimmicks such as license plates, tax check offs, or as some sarcastically suggest, bake sales.

The answer will be found when all of the people of Maine realize that this is about our natural resources, our heritage, and our home. It will happen when all of us accept the responsibilities of Stewardship and make the hard decision to safeguard the only home we have. If a way is not found to adequately fund the agency with the greatest responsibility for protecting and preserving the natural resources, we all lose.

IF&W’s proposed budget for 2010-2011 will be in the neighborhood of $37 Million. When one considers that the total impact on Maine’s economy from the major industries the Department oversees (hunting, fishing, trapping, boating, ATV and snowmobile riding, wildlife watching, and whitewater rafting) exceeds $2.4 Billion annually, not only is that a “Wicked Good Deal For Maine,” it is imperative to adequately fund the stewardship role of IF&W in protecting and preserving the economic lifeblood of this state which does impact every one of us.

Maine does not have a Disney theme park or significant manufacturing supporting our economy. People and companies that come here, do so because of the nature of the state and the quality of life. In other words, they come here, and most of us chose to remain because we believe this is “the way life should be.”

They come and we stay because of the uniqueness of our natural resources: our lakes and rivers; millions of acres of uninterrupted wilderness; abundant wildlife; majestic views; and the unmatched beauty of our rock-bound coastline. This is the engine and foundation of our economy, and protecting and preserving it is the most pressing stewardship challenge we must face.

Everything else is really secondary. It is really all about the natural resources.

DEPARTMENT INFORMATION

It's About the Resources