Local co-management of fish and wildlife: The Quebec experience

Quebec's system of Zones d'Exploitation Controlee (ZECs) is a unique experi ment in governmental delegation of resource management responsibilities to resource users. Under contractual arrangements with the Minister of Environ ment and Wildlife, locally based non-profit organizations receive authority to regulate hunting and fishing, manage resources, and charge fees to cove r their costs. The program began in 1978 and has made significant (though m ixed) progress in advancing the policy objectives set for it, namely, conse rvation of fish and wildlife, participation of users in resource management , improved public access, and financial self-sufficiency. Some tens ions ha ve developed because the private user groups who presently control ZECs hav e views divergent from others who want a larger role in ZEC decision making . These tensions are partly due to the structure of ZEC agencies and their legal mandate. Due to the unique history of fish and wildlife management in Quebec, assigning rights to manage fishing and hunting to private organiza tions seems more acceptable there than elsewhere. Nevertheless, the ZEC sys tem offers valuable experience to other governments and interest groups in their search for effective ways to decentralize resource management.