Quebec launches a strategy to ensure succession in wildlife-related activities

Quebec launches a strategy to ensure succession in wildlife-related activities

The Government of Quebec unveiled on Monday the Wildlife Succession Strategy 2026–2030, a new initiative aimed at slowing the decline in the number of people participating in hunting, fishing, and trapping, and ensuring the continuity of these activities, which are considered important economically, culturally, and regionally. The strategy focuses in particular on improving access to these activities, promoting mentorship, and raising young people’s awareness of biodiversity.

According to the government, the number of participants aged 12 to 64 has been decreasing for several years in wildlife-related activities. This trend is a concern for authorities, who emphasize the central role these practices play in many regions of Quebec.

The strategy is built around three main pillars: facilitating access to wildlife activities for new participants, promoting responsible practices related to biodiversity, and providing long-term support to encourage sustained engagement.

Among the measures being considered, the government aims to encourage mentorship-based initiation and increase opportunities for contact with nature, particularly for young people.

Hunting, fishing, trapping, and wildlife observation activities generate approximately $4.7 billion in annual spending in Quebec, while supporting more than 28,000 jobs and contributing significantly to the regional economy.

Funding for the strategy will come primarily from revenues generated by the sale of wildlife permits, along with an additional $4 million investment over four years.

The strategy also complements the Nature Plan 2030, which includes educational programs for high school students, such as Nature‑Études, to promote outdoor activities and conservation.

For the government, the objective is clear: to ensure the transmission of knowledge and tradition while adapting practices to current environmental challenges.