Natural England update on Individual Licences on or around SPAs
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The Natural England Gamebird Licensing Team have released further information regarding Individual Licences on on or within 500 metres of Special Protection Areas
Today, Monday 14 April, the Natural England Gamebird Licensing Team wrote to the NGO regarding gamebird licensing for 2025.
We had already been informed that, despite our best efforts, GL45 will not be issued this year, as it is not possible to rule out the risk of highly pathogenic Avian Influenza spreading to birds within SPAs. People wishing to release gamebirds on or within 500 metres of Special Protection Areas will therefore have to apply for an Individual Licence in order to do so.
The information sent to us by Natural England involves the arrangements for these Individual Licences. Natural England have created three categories:
a) SPAs where applications are likely to be successful with standard mitigation
b) SPAs where applications are likely to be successful with delayed release
c) SPAs where gamebird release is highly unlikely to be permitted for the coming season unless there are exceptional circumstances that could reduce or avoid the risk of avian influenza transmission.
Natural England have also provided a decision tree-diagram which should help people decide what step to take next. We have recreated this diagram below.
Defra state that they will shortly publish an updated GL43 licence and guidance for 2025 for release of gamebirds on and within 500m of areas that are SAC but not SPA.
The NGO are extremely disappointed that Natural England have not learnt from Defra when it comes to working with estates and meeting people on the ground to understand the sector and how birds move across the landscape, like Defra did in early 2024.
We would advise everyone to apply for a licence as soon as applications open on 22 April, regardless of whether the SPA that they operate on is on the list issued by NE (published below).
We would suggest that you evidence any separation in time and or space between the released gamebirds and your specific SPA designation species.
If any NGO member requires assistance or further information regarding your individual licence, please contact John Clarke, on john.clarke@nationalgamekeepers.org.uk.
ENDS
Note to Editors:
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