Community-based fish and wildlife work plan developed for Carcross/Tagish Traditional Territory

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.

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.

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.