Florida’s first black bear hunt in a decade is officially set to move forward after a unanimous vote by the state’s Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) on Wednesday morning, despite opposition from animal rights groups. The regulated hunt will take place over 23 days in December this year.

Black bear hunting is now legal in Florida, after a state commission on Wednesday approved a limited program in response to a rising population of the animals in the state as a result of conservation programs.

Florida will hold its first black bear hunt in a decade this December, a decision that has ignited fierce debate over wildlife science, public safety and hunting ethics. State wildlife commissioners voted unanimously Wednesday to approve the limited hunt, citing a need to manage what they say is a growing bear population.