Nfld. & Labrador Murre Conservation Fund 2009-10

2009-10 Final Reports:
Estimating numbers and monitoring trends of Thick-billed Murre populations at Arctic breeding colonies final report (PDF)

Year Round Tracking of Murres in Newfoundland and Labrador Final Report (PDF)

Storey & Walsh: Reproductive and Parental Behaviour of Common Murres Final Report (PDF)

Goal

To direct a portion of the revenues derived from the sale of Canadian Wildlife Habitat Conservation Stamps for murre hunting in Newfoundland and Labrador toward murre conservation activities that will enhance murre management and protection to help ensure a sustainable murre population.

Background

• Newfoundland and Labrador are the only areas in North America where murres can be legally hunted by non-Aboriginal peoples.

• The murre harvest is also significant to the First Nations Innu and Inuit of Labrador.

• Murre hunting is a significant traditional/cultural, as well as recreational, activity.

• Beginning in 2001, murre hunters were required to purchase murre hunting licenses issued in Newfoundland and Labrador, validated by the Canadian Wildlife Habitat Conservation Stamp.

• In 2005, Wildlife Habitat Canada, the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Environment Canada and the Newfoundland and Labrador Legacy Nature Trust agreed to use the revenues from the sale of Canadian Wildlife Habitat Conservation Stamps to murre hunters to establish a Newfoundland and Labrador Murre Conservation Fund.

• Nature's Legacy administered the Newfoundland and Labrador Murre Conservation Lunch until August 2009 when it ceased business operations. At that point in time, Wildlife Habitat Canada took over the administration of the Murre Conservation Fund.

• Operation of the Murre Conservation Fund is led by the Newfoundland and Labrador Murre Conservation Fund Committee. The Committee is comprised of voting members from Wildlife Habitat Canada; Environment Canada, Canadian Wildlife Service; and the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, Department of Environment and Conservation.

• The Murre Conservation Fund provides funding for programs and projects that will introduce youth and/or the general public of Newfoundland and Labrador to the conservation, management and traditional uses of murres.

Specific Results to be Supported by WHC’s Contributions

• The Fund provides funding to programs and projects that will enhance the conservation and management of murre populations and their habitat, including:

• Assessments of murre breeding populations, productivity, survival, harvests and other mortality factors.

• Projects that focus on long term conservation of high quality habitat, particularly that which is vulnerable.

• To be eligible to receive a grant from the Murre Conservation Fund, the project must meet the criteria for current priority program areas and an applicant must complete and submit a proposal application form to Wildlife Habitat Canada.

Murre Conservation Fund grants were approved for three projects in 2009/2010:

• Reproductive and Parental Behaviour of Common Murres (Applicant: Dr. Anne Storey and Dr. Carolyn Walsh, Dept. of Psychology, Memorial University of Newfoundland).
• Year-round Tracking of Murres in NL (Applicant: Bill Montevecchi, Memorial University of Newfoundland).
• Estimating Numbers and Monitoring Trends of Thick-billed Murre populations at Arctic Breeding Colonies (Applicant: Dr. Anthony Gaston & Dr. Grant Gilchrist, Carleton University, National Wildlife Research Centre).

Benefits to Waterfowl, Wetlands-Associated Species, and/or Other Wildlife

The funding of programs and projects that address priority program areas will enhance murre populations and habitats in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Relevance to Habitat Planning, Decision Making and/or Management

The Murre Conservation Fund will support programs and projects in Newfoundland and Labrador that will enhance murre management and protection to help ensure a sustainable murre population.

Project Location

Newfoundland and Labrador