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Wildfowling ban
03/01/2010
Shooting certain species of wildfowl has been temporarily suspended because of the severe weather across the country.
Species such as ducks, geese and shore waders are unable to feed in the current freezing conditions, threatening the birds' natural survival.
The suspension, brought into force under Section 2 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 through an order signed today by Environment Minister Roseanna Cunningham, prohibits the shooting of birds from 00:01am on Tuesday, January 5. It will last for 14 days but will be reviewed after seven days.
Species covered by the order, are:
- Coot
- Tufted Duck
- Gadwall
- Goldeneye
- Canada Geese
- Greylag Geese
- Pink-footed Geese
- Mallard
- Moorhen
- Pintail
- Golden Plover
- Pochard
- Shoveler
- Common Snipe
- Teal
- Wigeon
- Woodcock
Wildfowling is the practice of shooting ducks, geese, or other waterfowl for sport or food.
Scottish Ministers have been advised by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH), their statutory advisers on nature conservation matters, that there should be a temporary halt on wildfowling until the severe weather ends.
The British Association for Shooting and Conservation have been consulted about the making of the Order, the need for which will be reviewed after it has run for seven days.
The criteria and arrangements for shooting bans in severe weather were drawn up in 1982 by a working group set up by the former Nature Conservancy Council, which included shooting, conservation and scientific interests. Their report, which was accepted by the Government, called for the decision on an Order banning shooting to be made after 13 days of continuing frost as recorded by more than half of a particular selection of meteorological stations and for the ban to come into effect on the 15th day. Severe weather bans apply to all birds listed on Schedule 2 Part I to the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.