Regulation - LGIC
Amendment of Ontario Regulation 665/98 (Hunting) made under the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act to require annual mandatory reporting of snapping turtle harvest activities
Regulation Number(s):
665/98
Instrument Type:
Regulation - LGIC
Bill or Act:
Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act
Summary of Decision:
A decision was made to proceed with the proposal. The information collected through mandatory harvest reporting will help to inform management planning for the species. In addition to ongoing snapping turtle habitat conservation efforts by the Ministry, future management actions will continue to be assessed as needed.
The proposal was implemented by amendments to Ontario Regulation 665/98 (Hunting) under the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act. The requirement for annual mandatory reporting of snapping turtle harvest activities was created by O.Reg. 128/12 filed with the Registrar of Regulations on June 4, 2012 and published in the Ontario Gazette on June 23, 2012.
The proposal was implemented by amendments to Ontario Regulation 665/98 (Hunting) under the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act. The requirement for annual mandatory reporting of snapping turtle harvest activities was created by O.Reg. 128/12 filed with the Registrar of Regulations on June 4, 2012 and published in the Ontario Gazette on June 23, 2012.
Further Information:
Link to Environmental Registry
Proposal Number:
12-MNR006
Posting Date:
April 11, 2012
Summary of Proposal:
Wildlife plays a key role in Ontario's ecosystem and contributes to a broad range of ecological, social, cultural, recreational and economic benefits.
Snapping turtles are experiencing increasing pressure due to habitat loss/degradation, road mortality, nest predation and illegal harvesting/collection. In 2009, snapping turtle was added to the Species at Risk in Ontario List (Ontario Regulation 230/08) as a "special concern" species. The snapping turtle has also recently been listed nationally as a "special concern" species by the federal Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada.
A designation of "special concern" means that while the species is not "threatened" or "endangered" it has the potential to become so due to a combination of biological characteristics and threats. As such, there is reason to be cautious in how they are managed.
The Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) has taken steps to help support the long-term conservation of snapping turtles in Ontario, including banning the commercial harvest and sale of snapping turtles, introducing regulations to restrict the season, and possession limits, working with the Ministry of Transportation to reduce the road mortality, protecting and conserving wetland habitats through a number of existing legislative requirements and planning processes, and researching and monitoring.
Snapping turtles are currently listed as a game reptile under the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act. Snapping turtles can be harvested for personal consumption with a valid recreational fishing license. There are additional regulations that restrict harvest areas, season dates and bag/possession limits. It is illegal to harvest snapping turtles in provincial parks or Crown Game Preserves.
While the harvest of snapping turtle is thought to be minimal, the MNR is proposing to amend Ontario Regulation 665/98 (Hunting) under the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act to require annual mandatory reporting of snapping turtle harvest activities. It is proposed that the reporting requirement will come into effect for the 2012 season.
The MNR is proposing this initial step as a preliminary step to provide a mechanism to collect vital harvest information, and support future management decisions regarding snapping turtles.
Snapping turtles are experiencing increasing pressure due to habitat loss/degradation, road mortality, nest predation and illegal harvesting/collection. In 2009, snapping turtle was added to the Species at Risk in Ontario List (Ontario Regulation 230/08) as a "special concern" species. The snapping turtle has also recently been listed nationally as a "special concern" species by the federal Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada.
A designation of "special concern" means that while the species is not "threatened" or "endangered" it has the potential to become so due to a combination of biological characteristics and threats. As such, there is reason to be cautious in how they are managed.
The Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) has taken steps to help support the long-term conservation of snapping turtles in Ontario, including banning the commercial harvest and sale of snapping turtles, introducing regulations to restrict the season, and possession limits, working with the Ministry of Transportation to reduce the road mortality, protecting and conserving wetland habitats through a number of existing legislative requirements and planning processes, and researching and monitoring.
Snapping turtles are currently listed as a game reptile under the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act. Snapping turtles can be harvested for personal consumption with a valid recreational fishing license. There are additional regulations that restrict harvest areas, season dates and bag/possession limits. It is illegal to harvest snapping turtles in provincial parks or Crown Game Preserves.
While the harvest of snapping turtle is thought to be minimal, the MNR is proposing to amend Ontario Regulation 665/98 (Hunting) under the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act to require annual mandatory reporting of snapping turtle harvest activities. It is proposed that the reporting requirement will come into effect for the 2012 season.
The MNR is proposing this initial step as a preliminary step to provide a mechanism to collect vital harvest information, and support future management decisions regarding snapping turtles.
Contact Address:
Wildlife Policy Section
PUBLIC INPUT COORDINATOR
Ministry of Natural Resources
Policy Division
Biodiversity Branch
Wildlife Policy Section
300 Water Street
PO Box 7000
Peterborough Ontario
K9J 8M5
PUBLIC INPUT COORDINATOR
Ministry of Natural Resources
Policy Division
Biodiversity Branch
Wildlife Policy Section
300 Water Street
PO Box 7000
Peterborough Ontario
K9J 8M5
Effective Date:
June 4, 2012
Decision:
Approved