The value of the wild species that we hunt and fish is the subject of a massive, first of its kind study being undertaken by a local organization.

The Wild Harvest Initiative, a study by Conservation Visions, aims to answer questions relating to the economic, social, and conservation benefits of wild animal harvesting in Canada and the United States. The study will collect information on things such as the cumulative biomass of all harvested meats and fish in both countries, the cost of replacing all of that food, and how that food is shared by those who retrieve it.

President of Conservation Visions Shane Mahoney says there’s between 40 and 45 million people who participate in recreational hunting and fishing between the two countries. Newfoundlanders and Labradorians have one of the highest per capita consumption rates of wild harvested foods.

Mahoney believes the information found by the study will be valuable to the province, not just for the food value, but because harvesting wild food is part of our culture and our way of life.

The study will also focus on indigenous populations.

Maloney says they will look at the significance of wild foods on indigenous diets, lifestyles and cultures of indigenous people.