3rd January
2010…….……………………………………………….immediate release
The shooting of certain bird species
is to be suspended in Scotland for the first time in 13 years
because of the prolonged spell of snow and ice. From 9.00am on
Tuesday 5th of January it will become illegal to shoot ducks;
including reared mallard; geese, woodcock, snipe and golden plover.
The suspension could last for up to two weeks, but should be
reviewed after seven days if there is an improvement in conditions.
The last such suspension was in January 1997 and covered the whole
of Great Britain. The last suspension in Scotland alone was in 1993.
Dr Colin Shedden, director of the
British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC) Scotland
said: "The legal suspension of the shooting of wildfowl and wading
birds is applied in order to offer extra protection when an extended
period of severe weather is likely to disrupt the birds' feeding and
roosting patterns. Hunters in Scotland have been under advice to
exercise extra restraint in shooting these birds since Boxing Day."
Following agreed criteria, Minister
for Environment, Roseanna Cunningham has today signed an order under
the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 which will bring the
suspension into force from the 5th of January. The legal suspension
is introduced on the fifteenth day of severe weather, according to
data collected at coastal weather stations by the Meteorological
Office. ENDS
NOTES to Editors:
When a protection order is signed, it becomes an offence to kill or
take any of the following species, whether on the coast or inland:
Ducks: mallard, teal, wigeon,
pintail, tufted duck, pochard, shoveler, gadwall, goldeneye.
Geese: greylag, pink-footed, Canada.
Waders: golden plover, woodcock,
snipe.
Others: moorhen and coot.
Game birds are not affected, but
reared duck are included.
NB: Shooting geese for crop
protection during any statutory suspension period is also prohibited
unless it is otherwise permitted by licence. Any such shooting
should be conducted so as to minimise disturbance to other wildfowl.
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