Working Groups
Over the past several years, the Board has developed Working Groups to address and respond to emerging or urgent issues relating to the Yukon’s fish, wildlife, and habitat.
While some Working Groups may exist for years, others may focus on smaller and more isolated efforts and have shorter lifespans. The duration they remain active depends on the nature of the issue the group is addressing.
We divvy the Working Groups into areas that cover many of the Board’s operational responsibilities. Board members comprise the standing membership of these groups. However, we will often bring in members from other managing partners to help strengthen the group’s overall knowledge base and technical expertise.
The Board can address everything from legislation and regulation to policy, research, and program initiatives within these bodies.
After meeting and deliberating, our Working Groups will often make recommendations to the Board regarding the content of the Board’s recommendations to the Minister.
Our Working Group membership changes annually, and we always strive to enroll experienced Board members with the appropriate program areas or subject matter.
Communications Working Group
As per 16.7.6:
The purpose of the Communications Working Group is to guide the Board’s communications products, strategies and outreach initiatives. The working group will strive to provide factual and informative educational messaging including scientific and traditional ecological knowledge perspectives across the Board’s communications projects. Furthermore, direction and guidance from working group members will help direct the Communications and Research Analyst’s annual work plan. Core projects include the annual Fish & Wildlife Calendar, administration of the Alex VanBibber “Sharing The Land” scholarship, social media and website updates and supporting ongoing outreach events.
This working group is currently active.
Ungulate Working Group
As per 16.7.13 and 16.7.16:
The purpose of the Ungulate Working Group is to ensure healthy and sustainable populations of ungulates; a primary class of big game mammals harvested for subsistence and cultural practices and amongst licenced hunters. The efforts of this group will help promote habitat conservation, population recovery initiatives and sustainable harvest management amid pressures from predation, human activity and climate change. An overarching Ungulate Management Framework is one of the group’s aspirations. This Framework would provide a territory-wide “toolbox” to address the complex nature of ungulate management. Supplemental work including literature reviews and engagements will be needed to complete this framework. In addition, work done by this working group may feed directly into the ongoing work with our co-mgmt partners including on the Southern Lakes moose table and Kluane sheep table.
This working group is currently active.
Policy, Regulation, and Legislation Working Group
As per 16.7.16:
The purpose of the Policy, Regulation & Legislation Working Group is to oversee all legislative matters in which the Board is involved. The primary legislation concerning the Board, as outlined in Chapter 16 of the Umbrella Final Agreement is the Wildlife Act and the subsequent regulations associated. Additional legislation includes the Yukon Territory Fisheries regulations. The anticipatory updated Yukon Mining and Lands Acts, as well as the Environment and Water Act may all touch on areas within the Board’s purview as they relate to fish, wildlife and habitat concerns.
This working group is currently active.
Habitat Working Group
As per 16.7.12.1:
The purpose of the Habitat Working Group is to ensure the Board’s involvement includes the full breadth of it’s mandate, which includes habitat as it relates to the health and sustainability of Yukon fish and wildlife. In a commitment to this, the Board’s 2021-2026 Strategic Goals, Goal #4 – Develop a Yukon Habitat Protection Strategy identified commitment to pursue habitat management.
An overarching Yukon Habitat Protection Strategy would ideally address and support the Board’s ongoing efforts around:
· Yukon Land Use Planning& Local Area, Forestry and other resource plans
· IPCAs and other current and proposed Protected Areas
· ORV and access related issues impacting conservation, as well as provisions in the proposed updated Lands Act
· Mining activities and the proposed updated Mining Act
· YESSAB and Water Board project submissions for consideration and comment
This working group is currently active.
Wildlife Working Group
As per 16.7.12.2:
The purpose of the Wildlife Working Group is to oversee the wide range of species management plans, explore ways to support non-consumptive uses of wildlife in the Yukon and to discuss and explore issues related to consumptive uses including hunting and trapping. While the Ungulate and Fish working groups focus on those two groups, the wildlife working group may include some overlap but also furbearers, predators, birds and others. The Board has supported a series of species management plans and technical working groups. Explore our Management Plans tab to learn more.
This working group is currently active.
Fish Working Group
As per 16.7.12.1:
The purpose of the Fish Working Group is to be involved in all fish and fish habitat related issues that the Board is involved with. Scope of activities may include: Developing species and habitat management plans, reviewing angling practices and regulations including catch limits, integrating local knowledge of water bodies and fish populations into decision-making and supporting education initiatives around sustainable fishing practices. The group will be supported by Board staff and have technical support provided by YG fisheries biologist(s) and other technical experts where requested.
This working group is currently active.
