wildfowling ban in scotalnd

[stirky]

Cold weather brings restrictions on shooting in Scotland.

 

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.

[Pinkfooty]

Official notice from Scottish Government is here: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2010/01/31082612

[IanClark]

Ehm, don't want to be picky, but the ban starts at 00.01 tomorrow

 

Happy new year to you all!

 

Ian

 

URGENT NOTICE TO ALL WHO SHOOT IN SCOTLAND

 

Temporary wildfowling ban

 

You will wish to be aware that Roseanna Cunningham, Minister for Environment, signed an Order this morning, Sunday 3 January, imposing a temporary ban on wildfowling in Scotland. The purpose of the ban is to reduce disturbance to wildfowl in the current severe weather. The ban follows procedure previously agreed for severe weather conditions. The ban comes into effect at 00.01 on Tuesday 5th January and will last for 14 days. It will be reviewed after 7 days and may be lifted then if conditions have sufficiently improved.

 

Please note that woodcock and snipe are included in this ban, and may not be shot even on game shoots. The ban also extends to foreshore shooting below the high tide line.

 

Because the hard weather looks set to continue, it is unlikely that the ban will be lifted after seven days in this case, and in fact a further 14 day ban is likely to be imposed, which will effectively mean that wildfowl and waders may be protected until the end of this season, with the possible exception of foreshore shooting in February if the weather has improved.

 

WARNING - TEMPORARY SUSPENSION OF THE SHOOTING OF BIRDS IN SCOTLAND

 

Due to the recent severe weather Roseanna Cunningham, Minister for Environment, has made an Order prohibiting the shooting of birds in Scotland, below the high water mark of ordinary spring tides. Species covered by the order, listed on Schedule 2 Part I of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, are:

Coot, Tufted Duck, Gadwall, Goldeneye, Canada, Greylag and Pink-footed Geese, Mallard, Moorhen, Pintail, Golden Plover, Pochard, Shoveler, Common Snipe, Teal, Wigeon, Woodcock.

The ban came into effect at 0.01 a.m. on Tuesday 5th January 2010 and ends at 11.59 p. m. on 18th January 2010. This ban is effective only in Scotland.

Anyone who does not comply with this Order is committing an offence

[stirky]

Thanks for clearing that up Ian, glad we have a definate answer now, BASC says one thing, SACS says another,

 

I did think starting the ban at 9am was a stupid idea, right in the middle of flight time

[MC]

While we are all being pedantic this sentence is incorrect.

 

The ban came into effect at 0.01 a.m. on Tuesday 5th January 2010 and ends at 11.59 p. m. on 18th January 2010.

 

It should read "The ban will come into effect at 0.01 a.m. on Tuesday 5th January 2010 and will end at 11.59 p. m. on 18th January 2010."