The governments of Canada and the United States announce a historic agreement on important amendments to the 1916 Migratory Bird Convention.
For nearly 80 years, the Migratory Bird Convention has provided for the conservation of migratory bird populations shared by the U.S. and Canada but has become out of date. The amendments were pursued in order to update and improve the conservation of migratory birds, ensure conformity between the Convention and the rights of Aboriginal people of Canada, and provide a legal basis for customary and traditional taking of certain species in rural areas of Alaska.
After "advice and consent" from the U.S. Senate and upon ratification of the amendments (and implementing regulations) is will be legal for Indigenous inhabitants of Alaska and Aboriginal people of Canada to harvest migratory birds as they have done for centuries. In addition, a customary murre hunt in Labrador and Newfoundland will be legal and subject to a management regime. For the United States, it will be necessary to modify the U.S. - Mexico Convention to fully implement the Alaska hunt as envisioned. Currently, the U.S. - Mexico Convention has a prohibition on the taking of ducks between March 10 and September 1.
Deputy Prime Minister , Sheila Copps, and secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbitt signed the protocol on December 14, 1995 in Washington D.C.
"The agreement ensures the continued viability of the Migratory Bird Convention and continued conservation of the migratory-birds shared by Canada and the United States," said Minister Copps. "This is a significant agreement for Aboriginal people and for conservation."
According to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Mollie Beattie, "These amendments ensure the future of one of the oldest and most effective conservation treaties in North America and will help fulfill our responsibility to Indigenous peoples. They reinforce the international efforts and our commitment to effectively managing migratory birds for the benefit of all people".
The conservation principles reinforced within the protocol include managing migratory birds internationally, sustaining a variety of uses, maintaining healthy migratory bird populations, conserving habitat, and restoring depleted populations.
In addition, the amendments seek to recognize the principle of respect for Aboriginal and Indigenous knowledge and institutions. The principles are an important step toward embracing partnerships with Aboriginal people and for including all users meaningfully in the continued management of migratory birds.
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