Government responds to NGO fisheries’ branch petition

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At the end of June, the NGO Fisheries Branch launched a UK Parliament petition asking the government to amend Schedule 2.1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 to list cormorants, goosanders and red-breasted mergansers as species that may be managed outside the close season. This would enable proportionate, licensed control to protect inland fisheries and migratory fish populations where serious damage is evidenced.

 

While fish-eating bird numbers have risen dramatically in the past few decades, our native fish stocks are doing the opposite. Around 90% of principal salmon rivers in England are now classified as at risk, and declared catches are at their lowest since records began. Millions of pounds that are being invested in river restoration are being undermined by predation.

 

Once a government petition reaches 10,000 signatures, the government are obliged to respond to the petition. If a petition gets 100,000 signatures, it will be considered for debate in Parliament.

 

Within two weeks of it launching, our petition reached 10,000 signatories, meaning that the government needed to respond. This they did on 27 July, writing the following:

"The government consulted on proposed changes to Part 1, Schedule 2 (2.1) of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 earlier this year. Although all wild birds are protected under the Act, Schedule 2.1 provides limited exemptions that allow those species listed on it to be shot outside their close season, mainly for recreational shooting and harvesting. 

Schedule 2.1 currently lists 19 species of wild birds in England and Wales and 23 species in Scotland, mainly ducks, geese and wading birds. The consultation closed in May. 

Defra and Natural England previously carried out a review of Schedule 2.1 in England to ensure that shooting certain species of wild birds is sustainable and does not undermine their recovery. Similar reviews were carried out by NatureScot on behalf of the Scottish Government and Natural Resources Wales (NRW) on behalf of the Welsh Government. 

Following the conclusions of the reviews, Ministers largely agreed with various evidence-based recommendations set out in them, for example to extend the close season for woodcock, and remove pochard from Schedule 2.1. 

The views of the public were sought on these proposed changes. Consultees were also asked for suggestions as to whether further changes should be made, either adding other species to Schedule 2.1, removing species from the schedule, or amending the dates of close seasons. The government did receive proposals to add cormorants, goosanders and red-breasted mergansers to Schedule 2.1 so they can be more easily controlled for the purpose of protecting inland fisheries and migratory fish populations. These proposals, and any evidence provided to support them, are now being analysed and considered together with the many other different suggestions from the public that the consultation elicited. 

It is noted that a number of signatories to the petition reside in Scottish Parliamentary constituencies. It should be made clear that wildlife management is a devolved matter. While Defra worked collaboratively on the consultation document with the Scottish Government and Welsh Government, the UK government’s final decisions on which changes, if any, to make to Schedule 2.1 will relate only to England. The Secretary of State cannot compel Ministers in the Scottish Government or Welsh Government to make changes to Schedule 2.1 as it applies in Scotland or Wales. It will be for the governments of those nations to undertake their own analysis of the consultation responses and make decisions on legislative changes in Scotland and Wales to their own timelines. 

Aside from the consultation on Schedule 2.1, the petition comments on the population decline of fish species such as the Atlantic salmon. The government recognises the impact that fish-eating birds can have on fish stocks, though many factors are responsible for suppressing fish stock recovery. This includes, but is not limited to, climate change, water quality, pollution, flooding and habitat degradation. Defra is working at the national and international level where a range of issues are concerned to protect Atlantic salmon populations. Cleaning up the water environment, for example, is a key priority for the department. 

Furthermore, and as the petition alludes, the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 already provides licensing functions to permit the control of piscivorous birds, most often cormorants, to protect fisheries where it can be shown that non-lethal measures are failing to manage predation."

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

 

Don Crutchfield, NGO Fisheries Branch Chair said:

 

"We are delighted that the petition has reached over 10,000 signatures so quickly which really shows the scale of the problem caused by predation on our fisheries. The government's response was not unexpected: as usual they are not willing to commit to doing the right thing to protect fish stocks.

 

“We all agree that pollution and barriers are also factors in the decline of our fisheries, but predation is also key. It is the one issue we can address now to have an instant impact. The NGO will continue to fight on all fronts to save our waterways from predation and pollution. I encourage you, if you haven't, to sign the petition and get to 100,000 signatures."

 

ENDS

The National Gamekeepers’ Organisation (NGO) represents the gamekeepers of England and Wales. The NGO defends and promotes gamekeeping and gamekeepers and works to ensure high standards throughout the profession.

The National Gamekeepers’ Organisation was founded in 1997 by a group of gamekeepers who felt that keepering was threatened by public misunderstanding and poor representation. Today, there are 13,000 members of the National Gamekeepers’ Organisation.  www.nationalgamekeepers.org.uk