New GL43 issued by DEFRA for gamebird releases in SACs but not SPAs

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After a month of deliberating, DEFRA have finally issued a new GL43 for the release of gamebirds on or near certain European protected sites. This new General Licence will run for two years and will cover shoots releasing gamebirds in or within 500m of Special Areas of Conservation (SACs). However, it does not cover sites classified as Special Protection Areas (SPAs). Anyone wishing to release birds in an SPA or within 500m of an SPA boundary will therefore need to apply for and obtain an individual licence. 

For sites in or within 500m of an SAC, the licence does not have to be applied for. Users must however comply with the conditions within the licence.

It is a condition of the licence that anyone releasing 50 or more common pheasants or red-legged partridges within an SAC or its buffer zone must provide DEFRA with details of the total number and species of gamebird released; the total number and species of gamebird released within the 500m buffer zone; the gamebird density (birds per hectare) and location of release site (6-figure grid reference). This can be done using the online reporting form to submit your information to Natural England. If you’re unable to access this form, you can email your information to Natural England: gamebirds@naturalengland.org.uk. You can also check by using this online advice service whether you need to apply for an Individual Licence.

It is vital that everyone releasing on or near an SAC does this so that Natural England can obtain the data on how many people are using this General Licence. One of the many reasons for the confusion surrounding the removal of the previous GL43 by DEFRA was that they did not have correct data on how many people were using the General Licence and, therefore, how many people these changes would affect.

The NGO believe that the circumstances surrouding the changes to GL43 are completely unacceptable, and yesterday we wrote to DEFRA Ministers Lord Benyon and Thérèse Coffey to highlight how ineptly this who situation has been handled and what a detrimental effect it will have on many people. We await their reply and are considering our next steps.