Because of the shutdown of the federal government caused by the lapse in appropriations, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has been suspending most programs and operations, including public access to all National Wildlife Refuges and all activities on refuge lands – including hunting and fishing. As a result, a teleconference consisting of major sportsman’s groups took place on October 7.
"Closing off public access to our national wildlife refuges and public lands is the last thing we want to do, but is consistent with operations called for during a government shutdown," said Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Dan Ashe. "This is difficult news for the families, birdwatchers, hunters, anglers and recreationists who enjoy the great outdoors on the refuges – as well as for the many local businesses who depend on the tourism and outdoor recreation economy they generate. I think it’s most difficult for the thousands of furloughed Service employees who are impacted in carrying out their mission to protect our nation’s resources and providing for their families."
Main impacts to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service from the lapse in appropriated funding include:
- All 561 National wildlife refuges are closed to public access. Visitor centers and other buildings are closed.
- The National Wildlife Refuge System hosts more than 46.5 million people per year, and generates more than $342 million in local, county, state and federal tax income. Refuges also support more than 35,000 private-sector jobs.
- All activities on federal lands and in public buildings are canceled. This includes hunting and fishing activities on refuge lands.
- No permitting work or consultations will occur with respect to the Endangered Species Act, Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, the Convention on Trade in Endangered Species, the Lacey Act or the National Environmental Policy Act.
- The shutdown will affect more than 7,000 Service employees, who are furloughed until an appropriation is passed.
- Employees and others may not volunteer their services on behalf of Service functions or on federal lands.
- Services and programs that will remain operational fall into the following exempted categories:
- Programs financed by sources other than annual appropriations.
- Activities expressly authorized by law.
- Activities necessary to protect life and property.
- Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration and Sport Fish Restoration.
- Natural Resource Damage Assessment Fund activities
- Refuge Law Enforcement emergency operations
- Firefighting emergency operations
- Care and feeding activities at hatcheries and captive breeding facilities.
Because the website has not been maintained, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service website will be down for the duration of the shutdown. Additional information will be available at www.DOI.gov, as well as at OPM.gov. The latter will contain information about the government’s operating status.
TROUT STOCKING ADJUSTED IN NEW JERSEY
Due to the US government shutdown and resulting closure of federal lands, the NJDEP Division of Fish and Wildlife is adjusting the Thursday, October 3, stocking of the Flat Brook in Sussex County. However, except for the Federally owned portions, such as the Blewitt Tract, the Flat Brook will be stocked from Crigger Road downstream to Roy Bridge. The Walpack Valley Campground and the Walpack Wildlife Management Area (Haney’s Mill) will also be stocked.
Seven major sportsmen’s groups from across the country hosted a teleconference calling on Congress to end the shutdown that has closed hundreds of wildlife refuges, Forest Service and BLM areas at the start of hunting seasons across the nation. They also urged Congress and the administration to make habitat conservation efforts a priority.
The shutdown is limiting hunting opportunities and is hurting the country’s wildlife-related recreation economy, which in 2011 the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service estimated at more than $144 billion. For instance, the shutdown closed more than 329 federal wildlife refuges for hunting, and more than 271 are shut to fishing, affecting local economies.
These closures compound the cuts proposed by Congress to programs that conserve wildlife habitat including the Land and Water Conservation Fund, the North American Wetlands Conservation Act and others. The shutdown also undermines efforts to reauthorize the Farm Bill, which includes critical elements of national conservation policy.
Who participated:
- Dr. Steve Williams, President, Wildlife Management Institute and former Director of the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Pennsylvania)
- Land Tawney, Executive Director, Backcountry Hunters & Anglers (Montana)
- Whit Fosburgh, President/CEO, Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership (Washington, D.C.)
- Gaspar Perricone, Co-Director, Bull Moose Sportsmen’s Alliance (Colorado)
- Miles Moretti, President/CEO, Mule Deer Foundation (Utah)
- Howard Vincent, President & CEO, Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever (Minnesota)
- Desirée Sorenson-Groves, Vice President, Government Affairs, National Wildlife Refuge Association (Washington, D.C.)
