An audit of the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) and the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Commission (TWRC) by the State of Tennessee found several problems, including a finding that the TWRC took actions which ''could have additional negative consequences for wildlife.''

Click HERE to read the entire audit (PDF File).

Paddlefish Harvest Regulations
The TWRC, the governing body which sets most wildlife law and has regulatory authority over the TWRA, took action which state auditors say “did not adopt recommendations supported by substantial scientific and technical information from the
Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) and federal agency representatives. In both instances, the commission decisions concerned fish–the shovelnose sturgeon and paddlefish–that are commercially harvested for their roe.”

The audit says, “The commission’s actions have already led to one protective action by the federal government and could lead to additional federal action, as well as having potential negative consequences on endangered and ‘likely to become endangered’ wildlife, and on the state’s commercial fishermen.”

The official response said, in part, “The commission is concerned that auditors have improperly focused on complex resource management issues, second guessed the commission, and, in effect, proclaimed that the commission’s decision was incorrect. The commission does not believe that auditors have sufficient expertise to single out portions of this complex issue and criticize the commission’s decision. On this issue the commission has made decisions that it believes are in the best interest of the resource, the sportsmen, and the citizens of Tennessee with due consideration for those who would benefit financially from the resource.”

Lost Firearms
Auditors also slapped TWRA’s hand for failing to take “sufficient steps to minimize the potential for loss or theft of weapons used for hunter-education classes.”

Two firearms, a rifle and a shotgun, were lost in 2008. Auditors said, “TWRA has not established agency-wide standardized policies and procedures for hunter-education weapons. Each regional manager is given the authority to determine how that region will track, issue, and maintain weapons used for hunter-education classes.”

TWRA responded, “We concur. We have regional policies and procedures and will merge these into an agency-wide policy. It is impossible to eliminate all risks in this area given that human intervention is involved. We do not want to implement policies that are so restrictive as to greatly hamper delivery of this program, but we will take reasonable steps to minimize the risk of loss.”

Farming Contracts
Auditors also said TWRA has little oversight and control over cooperative farming contracts, in spite of the fact that state auditors pointed out the same problem in two previous audits, and TWRA officials agreeing that improvements would be made.

TWRA responded, “We concur. While we have made considerable improvements in this area, we still have some contracts without all required support documents. We will take measures to ensure that all farming contract information is maintained in the central office.”

Document Reliability of Licensing System
State auditors said TWRA needs better documentation to prove the reliability of its REAL Licensing System. There are no allegations of actual problems with the licensing system, only that TWRA has failed to document that monitoring is being performed.

TWRA responded, “We concur. TWRA has always routinely tested REAL data but has not consistently kept documentation of the testing. The IT and Revenue divisions will now keep documentation of testing.”

Funding Issues
Finally the audit also discusses two funding-related issues that were also noted in previous audits: the lack of an adequate, reliable funding source for non-game and endangered species programs, and sportsmen’s dollars continuing to subsidize TWRA’s regulation and management of commercial fishing and musseling. In addition, the audit discusses several issues related to commission operations; the reporting structure for the agency’s internal auditor; the agency’s Homeland Security responsibilities; and the status of Reelfoot Lake.