Cooperation and Controversy in Wilderness Fisheries Management

Abstract

Abstract Fisheries management in U.S. wilderness areas has been limited by a lack of cooperation between state and federal management agencies. Fish and wildlife management guidelines for wilderness areas agreed to in 1986 by the International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, U.S. Forest Service, and U.S. Bureau of Land Management represent a first step but are outdated and too broad to be applied to specific wilderness areas. In addition, they provide no formal process for agencies to work together. New agreements, including the comprehensive framework for managing fish, wildlife, and habitat in Montana's 1.5-million-acre Bob Marshall Wilderness complex, forge close partnerships in managing fisheries and other resources and set specific, shared management guidelines. Despite increased cooperation, many fisheries management issues in wilderness areas remain controversial. These include fish stocking, recreational fishing, ecosystem management principles, control of human use, grazing, and others...