For the past number of years there has been an active campaign to drastically reduce the number of moose in the province of Newfoundland & Labrador. This campaign would have moose management shift away from a scientific, logic based management strategy to an emotional, fear response management strategy. The number of moose-vehicle collisions has been used to grossly misrepresent moose populations throughout the province. These numbers are being presented and decisions are being made that could adversely affect the future viability of a long held cultural tradition of going out and hunting moose for food and sport. Non-resident hunting in the province provides between $30-40 million dollars annually for provincial coffers. If one includes both direct and indirect economic benefits of hunting, from residents, then the number (conservatively) could be double that mentioned above! Thus, with a dramatic reduction in moose population there would also be a reduction in the economic spin offs from the harvesting of these animals and a large loss of employment for those involved in this type of work.
The majority of moose-vehicle collisions are preventable. People are driving at high rates of speed in poor weather, poor visibility and distracted drivers are a major issue for everyone's safety.
SOMAC, would like to see our moose hunt based on scientific data. We would like to see a sustainable moose for future generations to come.
This is a ground level movement to protect our moose from destruction.
Members: 31
Latest Activity: Jul 23, 2017
Started by Tyler Downey. Last reply by Peter Emberley Mar 28, 2017. 1 Reply 0 Likes
Hello, glad to join
Started by Andrew. Last reply by Peter Emberley Mar 24, 2017. 7 Replies 1 Like
I don't have a problem reducing the number of moose licenses wherever declines in the population require it, but I am against reducing the length of the season. It's fine for those who have jobs with…Continue
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This is a response to the recent SOPAC article in the evening telegram about doubling the roadside cull along the TCH.
Moose Under Assault
I know that this may be a futile effort but here goes. Since the first 6 moose were introduced and released from Howley in 1904 as a food source for the people of this province, well over 3,000,000 moose have been harvested for food. This makes moose an incredibly valuable resource and an important part of our natural heritage. The money that is generated by hunters investing in securing an animal both for resident and nonresident hunters is a huge revenue generator.
SOPAC have once again succeeded in lobbying Govt. to increase the roadside hunt on the Avalon to reduce moose populations along the highway. Moose are driven onto and close to the highways largely because of the new hydro transmission line which runs adjacent to the TCH. The estimate population of 114,000 moose is grossly inflated as everyone and anyone who is engaged in the outdoors can tell you. Misguided bureaucrats & politicians are being successfully persuaded by SOPAC to attack moose just as Greenpeace successfully attacked the seal hunt.
Instead of embracing and protecting this magnificent species, we are attacking this species because moose are regarded as a pest by opponents. SOPAC, who have now infiltrated govt. with elected politicians and who are gaining ground are getting unlimited free publicity through the media while the silent majority of people in this province, particularly in rural Newfoundland, are not speaking out. The moose population is now a third of what it was a decade ago thanks in large part to the effective efforts of SOPAC. We are a humble people who take matters on the cheek as it were.
This type of attack on moose is not unique to this island as everywhere globally wildlife is being subjected to increased pressure as a result of the human footprint. Imagine an elephant vehicle collision or a giraffe. New superhighways in Africa are putting tremendous stress on all large animals.
Here is a copy of statistics from BC alone.
An Average Year
Past wildlife vehicle collision records demonstrate that in a typical year in BC it is estimated that:
All figures are mathematical averages, obtained from past records of the 1Insurance Corporation of British Columbia and the 2British Columbia Ministry of Transportation.
No doubt the Government has a responsibility to protect drivers from moose vehicle collisions, but killing or culling moose is not the solution. We need to protect ourselves not from moose but from our driving habits. Education is the key to a solution. Let us embrace our wildlife instead of attacking this noble animal.
Correct me if I am wrong but 114,000 was data that was the result of the last census conducted 20 years ago. Everyone moose hunter can tell you that this is erroneous. In other words, it is bullshit. What I'd like to know is the source of this lie.
All good questions Peter. It is common knowledge that government has a hidden agenda to drastically reduce moose populations which they have successfully accomplished beyond even their expectations. Public sentiment is very easy to manipulate through propaganda. It isn't difficult to see why moose populations have been decimated.
While moose populations are only a tiny fraction of what they were even a decade ago, the seal population has exploded to unimaginable numbers. Yesterday, I was on a longliner which we steamed from Harbour Grace to Fermeuse. From Torbay to Cape Spear there were hundreds of thousands of seals both in the water and on the outside ice. Two longliners were into the fat and looked low in the water. To quote John Crosbie, "they don't eat Kentucky Fried Chicken".
The thing is, unlike moose they are out of sight and are totally out of the public eye. You don't hear a whisper though about the fact that at least ten million seals which is a very conservative estimate, eat at least ten million pounds of cod a day. A census which was conducted ten years ago estimated the harp seal population at 8 million. No one knows what it is now. Common sense would suggest that the figure, on cod predation is closer to 100 million pounds a day. The food fishery in total is only .1% of 1% of the biomass according to DFO scientists which in total is just over a million pounds last year. Seals would eat this amount in a few hours.
Something to think about. Yet, all we hear is DFO nailing some poor bugger for going over on his quota by a few fish. Pathetic!
Blue Water Marine & Equipment Ltd.
16 Allston Street
Kenmount Road Business Park
Mount Pearl, NL A1N 0A4
Tel: (709) 782-3200
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