Mission, Powers & Authorities
Mission Statement
To ensure the continued well-being of fish and wildlife populations in the Yukon for the use and enjoyment of all Yukoners and future generations while protecting First Nations special interest in wildlife.
In order to achieve its mission the Board will:
- Keep the Yukon public informed about fish and wildlife issues.
- Provide means for public discussion on fish and wildlife issues.
- Create a balance for traditional, local and scientific knowledge in developing decisions on wildlife.
- Provide public appreciation of the diversity of social values related to fish and wildlife management.
- Provide a fair process for consultation that incorporates all levels of society in arriving at fish and wildlife decisions.
- Provide an opportunity for every Yukoner to have effective input on fish and wildlife issues.
- Participate in national and international fish and wildlife conservation initiatives while maintaining the Yukon Territories perspective and protecting Yukon interests.
- Provide information on relationships between fish and wildlife and their environment to enable Yukoners to make informed decisions about how they will interact with fish and wildlife.
- Explore avenues to enhance and perpetuate wildlife populations.
Powers and Authorities
The Yukon Fish and Wildlife Management Board will work within its mandate towards achieving the objectives of the Umbrella Final Agreement established in 16.1.0. These general objectives related to the management of fish and wildlife in the Yukon provide the broad policy context for the Board. Specifically the Board may exercise the following powers and responsibilities assigned to it in the UFA:
- make recommendations to the appropriate Minister, Yukon First Nations and Renewable Resource Councils on all matters related to Fish and Wildlife management, legislation, research, policies and programs (16.7.11);
- make recommendations to the appropriate Minister policies for the management of Fish and Wildlife and their habitats (16.7.12.1);
- make recommendations to the appropriate Minister on the need for and the content and timing of all Yukon Fish and Wildlife Management Plans for species included in international agreements, threatened species or populations, species or populations declared by the Minister as being of territorial, national or international interest, and transplanted populations and exotic species (16.7.12.2);
- review and make recommendations to the appropriate Minister and to Yukon First Nations on the management plans recommended by Renewable Resource Councils, specifically with respect to population goals and management options (16.7.12.3);
- where required by species or population management plans, recommend to the appropriate Minister a Total Allowable Harvest (16.7.12.4);
- review and recommend to the appropriate Minister adjustments to Basic Needs Levels (16.7.12.5);
- make recommendations to the appropriate Minister on the need for, and for positions on, interjurisdictional agreements that affect the conservation and use of Fish and Wildlife in the Yukon (16.7.12.6);
- after consultation with affected Renewable Resource Councils, recommend to the appropriate Minister restrictions on methods and practices of harvest for reasons of conservation, public health, public safety and protection of the renewable resources economy associated with the use of Fish and Wildlife (16.7.12.7);
- at the request of a Renewable Resources Council, assist it with its duties (16.7.12.8);
- with the approval of the Minister, delegate the performance of its responsibilities to a Renewable Resources Council (16.7.12.9);
- in consultation with Renewable Resources Councils, identify new opportunities and recommend to the appropriate Minister management measures for commercial uses of Fish and Wildlife (16.7.12.10);
- participate in the public proceedings of any agency, board or commission dealing with matters that affect the management and conservation of Fish and Wildlife and their habitat in the Yukon (16.7.13);
- prior to the amendment or introduction of legislation for Fish and Wildlife in the Yukon, advise the Minister on the matters to be addressed in that legislation (16.7.16); and
- make recommendations prior to the Minister declaring a species or population to be of territorial, national or international interest (16.7.19).
