RSPB renews calls for shoot regulation
Shooting organisations are frustrated after the RSPB recently stepped up its calls for the Government to regulate shooters.
In its annual Birdcrime 2008 report, which was published on 26 August, the RSPB renewed its demand for the Government to consider updating the way gameshoots are regulated, with those found guilty of persecuting birds of prey banned from shooting for a fixed period. Other demands include more funding for the National Wildlife Crime Unit and more full-time wildlife crime officers.
Illegal killing continues to impact significantly on populations of birds such as hen harriers and golden eagles, an RSPB spokesman told Shooting Times. He added: While we support the shooting sector in its efforts to tackle those responsible, and promote the wider testing of techniques, such as diversionary feeding of harriers, we believe regulation also has a part to play. Following the withdrawal of game licences in England and Wales, and proposals to do similar in Scotland, we want Government to have the means to withdraw a persons right to shoot game for a fixed period, if found guilty of bird of prey persecution or other environmental crimes.
The rest of this article appears in 2nd September issue of Shooting Times.
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