Last week, Safari Club International Litigation Associate Madeline Demaske testified before the House Committee on Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife, and Fisheries in support of H.R. 6251, critical legislation aimed at addressing longstanding unintended consequences involving the importation of legally harvested polar bears.
H.R. 6251 would amend the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 to allow the importation of polar bears lawfully harvested through guided hunts in Canada before May 15, 2008. This bill would provide relief to 41 individuals who complied with all applicable laws at the time of their hunts but were later denied from importing their legally harvested wildlife after polar bears were listed as "threatened" under the Endangered Species Act. That listing decision was based on future climate projections rather than evidence of a present decline in polar bear populations.
"H.R. 6251 addresses a narrow but significant problem that arose not from unlawful conduct or conservation necessity, but rather from the rigid operation of an automatic statutory trigger within the Marine Mammal Protection Act," said Demaske in her testimony. "The 41 hunters affected fully complied with all applicable laws at the time of harvest and took bears from populations previously reviewed and approved by the service as sustainably managed."
SCI is committed to advancing sustainable wildlife management systems and defending the rights of responsible hunters worldwide. We strongly urge lawmakers to advance H.R. 6251 to address these unintended consequences and reinforce the conservation framework Congress originally established.
SCI thanks Representative Nick Begich (R-AK) for requesting the introduction of this bill, as well as the House Committee on Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife, and Fisheries for the opportunity to provide testimony on this important issue.
Background:
For over 50 years, SCI has been the leader in defending the freedom to hunt and promoting wildlife conservation worldwide. SCI is unique in the scope of its ability to defend and advance the freedom to hunt. SCI is the only hunting rights organization with a Washington, D.C.-based national and international advocacy team and an all-species focus. SCI also mobilizes more than 150 chapters and affiliate networks representing millions of hunters around the world.