1.2 Compliance with Laws and Regulations
Depending on where the inventory survey takes place, one or more of the following may be required to access an area or to collect vouchers:
Two acts of legislation forbid collection in provincial parks and ecological reserves: The Park Act (Section 8, Park and Recreation Area Regulations, O.C. 867/90, Division 6, Section 32(1)) and the Ecological Reserve Act (Ecological Reserves Regulations, 335/75, Section 1).
The Park Act and Ecological Reserve Act both provide the legislation which clearly prohibits the collection and removal of all natural resources within the parks and ecological reserves. Violators are subject to prosecution under the terms of the regulations (fines) and the judgments held before the courts for charges submitted.
Collection and research may only occur under the authority granted and outlined in a Park Use Permit, Recreation Area Permit or Ecological Use Permit. Permits are issued by the various Park District offices through the province, upon application and review by District staff. The Resource Officer is normally the lead coordinator in reviewing and issuing new permits involving collection and research.
Wildlife for which a possession permit from a Regional Manager or Wildlife Branch Director is required is that which is described in the Wildlife Act. Possession permits are issued pursuant to Section 19 of the WILDLIFE ACT, and BC Regulation 337/82, section 1(l). The authority for capture of wildlife comes under section 1(c) of the same regulation.
There is no prescribed application form for wildlife possession permits at this time. Written request for possession permits must be made to the Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks' (MELP) Regional Manager. Requests for possession permits must provide the necessary details as to collectors' names, sampling period, locations to be sampled, gear types to be used, general purpose of the inventory, species, description, number, location of storage/display, and responsible institution/agency (who will be collecting what, where, when, why and how). Reference should be made to authority (permit) under which the wildlife was collected. Note: If wildlife (dead or alive) is to be exported out of British Columbia, a "BC Wildlife Export Permit for Live Wildlife (or Dead Wildlife, Parts or Derivatives)" must be obtained. Application forms are available from Regional Managers or the Wildlife Branch Director. Wildlife permits cover terrestrial vertebrates as well as sea otters, but do not include migratory birds (see below).
Migratory birds are under federal jurisdiction, therefore possession permits cannot be issued by the MELP Regional Manager. Migratory birds are regulated under the Migratory Bird Convention Act and capture and handling permits can be obtained through the Canadian Wildlife Service (CWS).
The Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks' Regional Managers issue permits for the collection of fresh-water fish captured in British Columbia.
The Department of Fisheries and Ocean (DFO) is responsible for permits governing the collection of marine invertebrates, saltwater fishes and salmon in fresh-water. To obtain a "Licence to Fish for Scientific Purposes" apply to the DFO regional office responsible for the area where the inventory will be conducted (see below). Note that to collect fish in a contaminated area a "Licence for the Harvest of Contaminated Shellfish" is required (currently $100 cost). These permits are issued pursuant to subsection 4.(1) of the Management of Contaminated Fisheries Regulations, and Part VII of the Fishery General Regulations, Fisheries Act, R.S.C. 1985, c.F-14.
Contact numbers for permits to collect in non-contaminated area:
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Contact numbers for permits to collect in contaminated areas:
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Written requests for licences must provide the necessary details as to collectors' names, sampling period, locations to be sampled, gear types to be used, general purpose of the inventory, species, description, number, location of storage/display, and responsible institution/agency (who will be collecting what, where, when, why and how).
Marine mammals are covered under the Canada Fisheries Act and are the responsibility of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans. Marine mammals are not addressed in this manual.
Inventory personnel must be aware of health hazards associated with working with wild animals and chemicals used for preserving specimens. Ford and Tesch (1993) discuss some of these concerns. Although it is beyond the scope of this manual to cover these health hazards, below are some common sense precautions:
All personnel including project managers, crew leaders and any other persons who are independently collecting data on a provincially-funded species inventory project must have successfully completed the training course "Introduction to Wildlife Inventory" that is based on the Species Inventory Fundamentals manual (No. 1). This course, along with other species inventory courses, are offered through the British Columbia Forestry Continuing Studies Network (FCSN).
The Chemical Immobilization of Wildlife training course is also required by any biologist who will be using chemical means to restrain wildlife. This course has been developed by the Canadian Association of Zoo and Wildlife Veterinarians.