11-20-2010, 07:05 PM
Swine Biosecurity Workgroup makes recommendations
[url "http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=8yburrcab&et=1103904714874&s=17406&e=0018naTd2S_ZTtToqx_E8JUr2y2U9yivEZyKlRp5P3R9YBDLlItyQLz3avgtVTX9bzXyciSbc5ulm99hUHsRopDhm0aICXEEim16AxL9TTa_3cKEnugA3F4LCGS_r9JmJA3A0amr8XpZsY="]![[Image: boar.jpg]](http://www.michiganoutofdoors.com/images/boar.jpg)
[/url]Since the August joint meeting between the Natural Resources Commission (NRC) and Commission of Agriculture, both DNRE and Department of Agriculture officials have been wrestling with the feral swine problem in Michigan, and a proposed DNRE Director's Order that would list the wild boar cousins of domestic pigs as a prohibited invasive species in the state.
At the August joint meeting, the DNRE Wildlife Division presented a proposal to list wild boar/feral swine (Sus scrofa) as a prohibited invasive species in Michigan. State law requires the DNRE to list non-native species as prohibited if (1) the organism not native to the state, (2) the organism has the potential to harm human health or to severely harm agricultural, natural, or silvicultural resources, and (3) effective management controls are not available. Michigan wildlife specialists and scientists across the globe have verified that feral swine overwhelmingly satisfy that criteria, which would require DNRE Director Rebecca Humphries to sign the order under state law.
After a lively debate over the issue, however, legislation has since been introduced to regulate captive hog shooting ranches and wild boar breeding facilities, where many believe imported game swine are escaping onto Michigan's landscapes. Current state law does not impose any baseline fencing, reporting, or identification requirements.
Additionally, a wide variety of stakeholders, including MUCC were asked by MDNRE and MDA to participate in a Feral Swine Biosecurity Workgroup in order to provide recommendations for a regulatory program. This work group represented the diversity of interests that are affected by feral swine, as well as the shooting swine facilities.
Last month, the workgroup issued a set of recommendations to the MDNRE and MDA, which include a moratorium on new shooting and breeding facilities, containment standards, biosecurity measures, herd inventory and unique identification, liability for escaped animals, funding considerations, and penalties for violations. MUCC believes that if the budgetary burden of the recommended regulatory framework can be wholly sustained by the wild boar shooting and breeding facilities without the aid of general or restricted funds, the work group's recommendations will be an appropriate alternative to the proposed Order. If not, however, the Order must be signed and put into effect.
The primary consideration critical to the success of this regulatory program is a funding source to support the monitoring and enforcement of these regulations. The DNRE Wildlife Division now receives only 4 percent ($1.68 Million) of the DNRE's General Fund appropriation. According to the three-year average analysis produced by the House Fiscal Agency, more than half of that money will be spent on the captive cervid regulatory program and the remainder will primarily be spent for testing of wild deer for Bovine Tb. No additional revenue is available to cover the costs of a new program.
MUCC strongly opposes the use of restricted monies from the Game and Fish Fund to fund this regulatory program.
In the event that the Michigan Legislature fails to act on these recommendations, MUCC would advocate for the DNRE Director to list wild boars/feral swine on the prohibited and restricted invasive species list. Absent a strong regulatory framework and adequate funding, this action by the DNRE would be both appropriate and critical to preventing the further establishment of feral swine on the Michigan landscape.
[signature]
[url "http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=8yburrcab&et=1103904714874&s=17406&e=0018naTd2S_ZTtToqx_E8JUr2y2U9yivEZyKlRp5P3R9YBDLlItyQLz3avgtVTX9bzXyciSbc5ulm99hUHsRopDhm0aICXEEim16AxL9TTa_3cKEnugA3F4LCGS_r9JmJA3A0amr8XpZsY="]
[/url]Since the August joint meeting between the Natural Resources Commission (NRC) and Commission of Agriculture, both DNRE and Department of Agriculture officials have been wrestling with the feral swine problem in Michigan, and a proposed DNRE Director's Order that would list the wild boar cousins of domestic pigs as a prohibited invasive species in the state.At the August joint meeting, the DNRE Wildlife Division presented a proposal to list wild boar/feral swine (Sus scrofa) as a prohibited invasive species in Michigan. State law requires the DNRE to list non-native species as prohibited if (1) the organism not native to the state, (2) the organism has the potential to harm human health or to severely harm agricultural, natural, or silvicultural resources, and (3) effective management controls are not available. Michigan wildlife specialists and scientists across the globe have verified that feral swine overwhelmingly satisfy that criteria, which would require DNRE Director Rebecca Humphries to sign the order under state law.
After a lively debate over the issue, however, legislation has since been introduced to regulate captive hog shooting ranches and wild boar breeding facilities, where many believe imported game swine are escaping onto Michigan's landscapes. Current state law does not impose any baseline fencing, reporting, or identification requirements.
Additionally, a wide variety of stakeholders, including MUCC were asked by MDNRE and MDA to participate in a Feral Swine Biosecurity Workgroup in order to provide recommendations for a regulatory program. This work group represented the diversity of interests that are affected by feral swine, as well as the shooting swine facilities.
Last month, the workgroup issued a set of recommendations to the MDNRE and MDA, which include a moratorium on new shooting and breeding facilities, containment standards, biosecurity measures, herd inventory and unique identification, liability for escaped animals, funding considerations, and penalties for violations. MUCC believes that if the budgetary burden of the recommended regulatory framework can be wholly sustained by the wild boar shooting and breeding facilities without the aid of general or restricted funds, the work group's recommendations will be an appropriate alternative to the proposed Order. If not, however, the Order must be signed and put into effect.
The primary consideration critical to the success of this regulatory program is a funding source to support the monitoring and enforcement of these regulations. The DNRE Wildlife Division now receives only 4 percent ($1.68 Million) of the DNRE's General Fund appropriation. According to the three-year average analysis produced by the House Fiscal Agency, more than half of that money will be spent on the captive cervid regulatory program and the remainder will primarily be spent for testing of wild deer for Bovine Tb. No additional revenue is available to cover the costs of a new program.
MUCC strongly opposes the use of restricted monies from the Game and Fish Fund to fund this regulatory program.
In the event that the Michigan Legislature fails to act on these recommendations, MUCC would advocate for the DNRE Director to list wild boars/feral swine on the prohibited and restricted invasive species list. Absent a strong regulatory framework and adequate funding, this action by the DNRE would be both appropriate and critical to preventing the further establishment of feral swine on the Michigan landscape.
[signature]