28/3/2023

NRW launch consultation on proposal to licence gamebird releasing in Wales

Pheasant In Woodland www.davidmasonimages.com

On Monday 27th March Natural Resources Wales (NRW), on behalf of Welsh Government, launched a 12-week public consultation on their proposals to licence gamebird releasing in Wales. They propose to move pheasant and red-legged partridge onto Schedule 9 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 which would make it illegal to release these gamebirds except under licence.

Following this move, NRW propose that pheasant and red-legged partridge release would be permitted under a General Licence (a licence which does not need to be applied for, and does not incur any cost), requiring those releasing game to do so following the GWCT’s sustainable release guidelines, i.e. 1,000 pheasants per hectare of release pen or 700 pheasants per hectare of release pen for sensitive sites such as Ancient Semi-Natural Woodland.

They are less clear on their proposed definitions of ‘release area’ for red-legged partridge and are seeking clarity through the consultation.

Their proposed General Licence would not cover the vast majority of designated sites i.e. European designated sites or SSSI’s, and those wishing to release in these designated areas, and within a 500m buffer of these sites, would need to apply for a specific licence.

At this time it is understood that there would be no charge for such specific licences, unless applicants wish to release more than the recommended densities, in which case a cost-covering charge would be applicable.

The GWCT’s sustainable release guidelines can be found here and are based on peer-reviewed science. These guidelines are written in to The Code of Good Shooting Practice which is endorsed and supported by all the Countryside Organisations, and they underpin sustainable gamebird management in the UK.

The GWCT encourages members and those involved in game shooting across the whole of the UK to respond to the consultation, giving your views on NRW’s proposals to licence gamebird releasing in Wales.

When answering the questions within the consultation please give your reasoning behind your position, and consider whether you deem NRW’s proposals to be proportionate, workable and sustainable.

The consultation can be found here, and you can submit your response here.

GWCT recently published a blog explaining the importance of responding to such consultations here, and we will be publishing another blog with more details and guidance to aid your consultation response in the forthcoming days.

Comments

Game bird release licenses

at 21:11 on 03/05/2023 by Jason Abbot

This is just a further attack on the rural culture for no good reason. When linked to their stated belief that the Welsh assembly disapprove of country people enjoying the fulfillment of their hunting instinct by shooting game birds, this licensing proposal is an ominous thin end of the wedge. Perhaps they will disapprove of fishing next? They should be focusing on real problems!

Game bird release in Wales

at 6:23 on 29/03/2023 by Alan Wiley

Proper consultation is required

Bird release

at 5:37 on 29/03/2023 by Michael Buckley

I think it is a bad idea to change the release rules why change it?

NRW license proposal

at 10:08 on 28/03/2023 by David Soutter

The concept that any rural activity needs licensing is patently absurd and cannot be based on anythought out concept. Given the already stated prejudice against shooting in Wales as expressed by the Rural Affairs Minister the process is already flawed. Shooting in general brings in huge amounts of income by direct and indirect employment and related business. More importantly it does so out side the tourist season. It would be a return to the bad old days were rates were charged on shooting rights. The working man has a right to his and her sporing activities this is just more useless red tape and cost. More taxes levied on an already suffering rural economy.

Game Bird Release

at 8:34 on 28/03/2023 by Keith John Robinson

Could someone please tell me why the welsh goverment is trying to change or add laws about releasing game birds when the system works extremely well at the moment working as a self regulating system by people who know what they are doing. I have a good idea that people in the wesh goverment who DO NOT have a clue how the countryside works are trying to turn it into a giant theme park. Hill farming in North Wales which is the only area of wales I have any great knowledge of will be devistated by any changes to the law because lots of farmers rely on shooting to support their meager income

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