WILDLIFE CONSERVATION FUND EXPENDITURE SUMMARY 1998-99: 
     
    
   
   
    
     Many of the Island's conservation groups joined forces to work towards the creation of a new 
     
     conservation fund to support needed habitat conservation and improvement initiatives in Prince Edward 
     
     Island. After many discussions with key Ministers and Departments, the legislature agreed and created 
     
     the Wildlife Conservation Fund through a once a year contribution of $13 required by anyone wishing to 
     
     fish. hunt, or trap on the Island. One of the prerequisites to establishing the fund was that, for the first 
     
     three years, $60,000 annually would be dedicated to the Cardigan Hatchery Operation now being run by 
     
     Atlantic Veterinary College. This fisher, hunter, and trapper contribution requirement came into force in 
     
     1998 and resulted in the creation of a fund of $147,337. The license dispensers receive a 5% 
     
    

    
     ‘ commission and this amounted to $7,350. 
     
    

    
     The Minister of Technology and the Environment appointed a group of nine conservationists from 
     
     throughout the province to develop the terms of reference and application forms for the new fund. This 
     
     was done and the first call for applications was made. Applications were received in December from 18 
     
     groups. These were reviewed by the Wildlife Conservation Fund Committee. A number of applications 
     
     were rejected because they requested funds for expenditures or work not covered by the fund. The 
     
     following groups received 90% of the eligible grant funds with the balance to be paid on successful 
     
     completion of their project. Southeast Environmental Committee ($270), Indian River Watershed 
     
     Committee ($1,620), P.E.l. Trappers Association ($648), Miminegash River System Enhancement 
     
     Committee ($1,107), Sir Andrew Macphail FOundation ($3,907.80). Environmental Coalition of P.E.l. 
     
     ($3,446.80), P.E.l. Soil and Crop Association ($4,500), and Mill Watershed Improvement Committee 
     
     ($4,500). The balance of $59,967.40 was advanced to AVC. The successful projects ranged from fish 
     
     habitat improvement to conservation education. 
     
    

    
     In 1999, there will be two rounds of applications and it is anticipated that there will be sufficient 
     
     high quality applications to warrant the full expenditure of the fund. The second deadline for applications 
     
     was May 1st, 1999 and the third round will be September 15, 1999. For additional information, contact 
     
     Todd Dupuis, the Chairperson, by telephone or fax at 368-6082. 
     
    
   
   
    
     SEA DUCK KILL PERMIT ISSUED BY CWS 
     
    
   
   
    
     In response to pressure from mussel growers, the Canadian Wildlife Service has issued a kill 
     
     permit for six sea ducks (scoters, oldsquaws and eiders) daily at a large mussel growing site in Boughton 
     
     River/Cardigan Bay. A Sea Duck/Mussel Aquaculture Working Group consists of representatives of the 
     
     Canadian Wildlife Service, P.E.l. Department of Technology and Environment Planning and 
     
     Administration, P.E.l. Fish and Wildlife Division, P.E.l. Fisheries and Aquaculture, and P.E.l. Mussel 
     
     Growers Association. This issue of scaring verses killing sea ducks feeding on young "seed crop" 
     
     cultivated mussels has been under discussion over the past few years at the Working Group. In the 
     
     past, this group has recommended and assigned annual scare permits to mussel growers when 
     
     problems arose. The Working Group has also been conducting education on methods that have worked 
     
     elsewhere and some growers are experimenting with biodegradable sock netting that does not allow 
     
     ducks to penetrate it to get at the mussel spat. However, some mussel growers wanted proof that 
     
     scaring was as or more effective than shooting and the specialists indicated they could not offer proof 
     
     from studies elsewhere in North America. 
     
    

    
     Thus, a project was designed to explore the issue. One large grower has allowed the Working 
     
     Group to conduct surveys and research at three specific sites at one operation. One will be used as an 
     
     observation area from a boat, one where the birds will be scared by a boat, and a third where six birds 3 
     
     day may be shot. 
     
    

    
     This group of birds has been of concern to the Natural History Society for some time due to 
     
     declines reported by members at many of the best observation sites. The Canadian Wildlife Service and 
     
     other conservation groups are working to reverse the declines in 12 of the 15 species in North America 
     
    
   
   
    
     8