Interpretation of Fish and Wildlife Laws

Number: 1996-13

 

WHEREAS, the strong enforcement of fish and wildlife laws is an essential component of fish and wildlife conservation; and

WHEREAS, the complexity of fish and wildlife laws and the involvement of many agencies in fish and wildlife enforcement can lead to misunderstanding and difficulty for the law-abiding sportspersons to comply with; and

WHEREAS, the joint management and enforcement of migratory birds by both federal and state agencies increases this complexity even more; and

WHEREAS, sportspersons may be abandoning hunting and fishing activities for fear of unwittingly violating fish and wildlife laws or policy; and

WHEREAS, the public has the right to expect that fish and wildlife regulations will be unambiguous, relatively easy to interpret, and applied consistently in all areas of the country;

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation in its Annual Meeting assembled March 1-3, 1996 in West Palm Beach, Florida, urges federal and state agencies charged with the responsibility for conserving, managing, and protecting fish and wildlife resources to develop clear, concise, easily interpreted and uniformly enforceable fish and wildlife regulations within their respective jurisdictions.