This page will be used to keep you informed of news affecting wildfowling, covering such things as legislation, foul weather bans etc.
The Southern Wildfowlers and Wetlands Management Association
Following a recent amalgamation with Emsworth & District Wildfowlers & Conservation Association and Pagham & West Sussex Wildfowling & Conservation Association, Chichester Harbour Wildfowlers Association is now part of what is now The Southern Wildfowlers and Wetlands Management Association (For more information see the Wildfowling Links page)
NEW AIRGUN LAW COMES INTO FORCE
The Crime and Security Act 2010 which came into force in February makes owners liable for a fine of up to £1,000 if they do not take reasonable measures to stop unlawful access to their airgun by anyone under 18. BASC has commented that they think this a sensible step and a commonsense approach which is already followed by many airgunners. Possible measures could include lockable cupboards/cabinets or security cords or chains.
Natural England announce the outcome of its public consultation on ‘General Licences’ for wildlife.
‘General Licences’ enable people to carry out activities affecting bird species
that would be unlawful under wildlife legislation but which are deemed necessary
in order to prevent public health and safety problems, serious damage to crops
or disruption to native wildlife. Reviews of General Licences are carried out
periodically to ensure that the licences address emerging circumstances and
conservation issues. The latest review ensures that the licence framework
remains up to date and is able to target the increasing impact of non-native
species - recognised as a major global conservation problem.
Among the changes announced on Wednesday 30th of September 2009, Natural England confirmed that:
Several non-native bird species that breed in the wild - including monk
parakeets, ring-necked parakeets, Canada geese and Egyptian geese - will be
added to licences so their numbers can be controlled
Two native gull species – the herring gull and the greater black-backed gull -
will be removed from some licences due to conservation concerns about their
population numbers
Announcing the decisions, Natural England Chief Executive Helen Phillips, said:
“The changes we will be making in the New Year reflect our commitment to
simplify the regulation of licensed activities while ensuring that our native
wildlife is properly protected. Removing certain bird species from licences in
order to address concerns about their declining numbers, and adding emerging
problem species are absolutely vital to this goal.
“A key objective of the consultation has been to align general licences with
wider national and international strategies to control exotic and non-native
species. Non-native species are a major threat to global biodiversity and it is
important that licences can operate as an effective tool in helping to tackle
the problem”.
A spokesperson from Natural England concluded : “Licences are an important tool,
used by thousands of people to responsibly manage wildlife and the changes we
are making will ensure that licences can be effectively targeted at current
conservation challenges and can operate without superfluous bureaucracy. We are
grateful to the numerous organisations and individuals who contributed to the
wide-ranging consultation that lies behind the changes we are announcing today.”
Summary of Decisions and Changes to be
implemented in 2010
1. Ring-necked, monk parakeets, Canada geese and Egyptian geese will be added to
the licence for conserving wild birds.
2. Ring-necked and monk parakeet will be added to the licence for preventing
serious damage to crops.
3. Monk parakeet will be added to the licence for preserving public health or
public safety.
4. Great black-backed gull will, in future, only be listed on the air safety
licence, while the Herring Gull will be listed on the air safety licence and,
for egg and nest destruction only, on the public health and public safety
licence.
5. The trapping and release of house sparrow, starling, robin and blackbird will
be included on a new public health and public safety licence available to food
production and handling premises.
6. Licences will include additional guidance referring statutory bodies to their
obligations in respect to protected sites.
7. The licensing regime will operate in line with the GB Non-native Species
Framework Strategy, which will include adopting a presumption to support or
facilitate the control of non-native species.
8. Licences for the sale of live and dead birds will be consolidated so that
there is only one licence each. Ringing requirements will remain unchanged at
present.
9. We have reduced the number of species for which individual sales licences
must be sought. We have concluded that, in most cases, simply regulating sales
of legally held captive-bred specimens will not help us address the problems
caused by invasive non-native species.
10. We have decided against changing the rules on sales of dead barnacle goose
and white-fronted goose (Greenland race): individual licences will continue to
be needed.
11. Natural England will provide explicit guidance on what constitutes
‘documentary evidence’ in respect to sales of wild birds.
12. A number of measures are proposed to improve user awareness of terms and
conditions of licences, and;
13. In response to suggestions from stakeholders a number of additional changes
are to be made to the licences now, while other suggestions merit consideration
in a future review of licences.
Natural England has published a summary of
the responses together with its decisions. Draft versions of the revised
licences, which will come into force on 1 January 2010, have been published on
the Natural England website to allow licence users time to familiarise
themselves with the changes.
From the 1st January 2008 Natural England are responsible for the issue and administration of General licences. Further information can be found here http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/conservation/wildlife-management-licensing/genlicences.htm
DEER LAWS AMENDED
Shooters with smaller calibre rifles will now be able to hunt Chinese water deer and Muntjac without getting a variation on their certificates (NB it is illegal to shoot these deer or any other with shotguns except in special circumstances). Changes to the 1991 Deer Act permits some of the traditional fox calibres to be used for some of the smaller species of deer. Permission must have been granted by the landowner or the person having the shooting right and the rifle must meet the legal requirements as outlined below. Chinese Water Deer are now subject to a season (bucks and does) which runs from 1st of November to 31st March inclusive
Any rifle used for Chinese Water Deer or
Muntjac must meet the following criteria Calibre :-
not less than .220" Muzzle energy :- not less than
1.356 joules (1,000 ft/lbs) Bullet Weight :-
Bullets must be soft nosed or hollow nosed and not less than 3.24 grammes (50
grains) This covers most of the .22 centre fire rifles except the .22 Hornet.
VIOLENT
CRIME REDUCTION
Sections 31, 32 & 33
If you wish to continue selling air weapons by way of trade or business you must:
· Be registered as a Registered Firearms Dealer by October 1st 2007.
· From October 1st all air weapon sales and transfers by a Registered Firearms Dealer must be entered into a Statutory Firearms Register.
· From October 1st air weapon sales by way of trade or business must be completed face to face (this means that mail order sales will be banned).
· From October 1st it will be an offence for anybody under 18 to purchase or hire an air weapon or ammunition for an air weapon.
· From October 1st it will be an offence to sell or let on hire an air weapon or ammunition for an air weapon to a person under the age of 18.
GAME LICENCES ARE NO MORE
A Revision of the outdated Game Laws has lead to the scrapping of the Game Licence in England and Wales from the beginning of the 2007/2008 season, amendments will be made to the Game Act 1831, the Game Licenses Act 1860 and the Deer Act 1991. The proposed Order will also remove the requirement to hold a game licence to take or kill game; remove the requirement for a local authority licence and an excise licence in order to deal in game; and remove the restriction on dealing in game birds and venison during the close season, permitting sale all year round provided the game was lawfully killed.
Certificate Fees as of October 2010