Moratorium March 2015

The Moratorium on Hunting in T&T.

The Pointe-a-Pierre Wildfowl Trust supports the call of other environmental organizations for the extension of the current moratorium on hunting in Trinidad & Tobago. For years we have warned of the serious threats to our wildlife; habitat loss, fragmentation and unsustainable pressure from over-hunting. Over-hunting in and out of season!

Just think, in 2012/13, 10,800 permits were issued and that was for the bona fide hunters; what about the thousands of illegal game hunted in and out of that season?! Pressure!! Two years is a “break” though we all know that some illegal hunting was and is still carried on. Our wildlife is an essential part of our biodiversity and our own existence, and, benefit (and not just on the table) therefore; there must be sufficient time for the wildlife to regenerate. What we must all realize, is, that with a proper moratorium, everyone benefits, including the legal hunters. The economic, social and recreational value would/will be significant.

On a final note of concern; a question asked so many times, repeat, repeat, repeat. Who is going to do all the real work that is so urgently needed? Patrol, monitor, protect and enforce the law; 14 Game Wardens in Trinidad & Tobago and one on pre-retirement leave. 14 for the whole Country!!? Madness! Or indifference or ignorance of the value of our wildlife, of our biodiversity, and, its links to social and economic as well as environmental benefits to US the People.

Through the years how many letters have we written; how many Ministers have we seen?! The list is long.

The time for concerned, enlightened action IS NOW.

Molly R. Gaskin
President, The Pointe-a-Pierre Wildfowl Trust.