Shooters “Say no” to Suffolk sea eagles

Shoot owners and farmers who fear that controversial proposals to release up to 120 sea eagles on the Suffolk coast could damage their livelihoods have made their views clear by erecting protest signs on local roads.

If scientists from Natural England (NE) and the RSPB receive permission, 20 young birds a year will be released over six years at a cost of £600,000.

Signs bearing the slogan Say No To Sea Eagles have been put up in fields alongside main roads in north Suffolk, including the A12 south of Lowestoft and the A146 near Beccles in a bid to raise awareness of the proposals as meetings between stakeholders and NE get under way.

Local shoot owner Andrew Blois is the vice-chairman of the Suffolk branch of the Country Land & Business Association (CLA). He said he is worried about how the raptors will impact on his pheasant and partridge shoot: “The plan to introduce sea eagles is nothing more than an expensive indulgence of the Government. It has not properly addressed the implications for local people. That is why a group of shooters, farmers and landowners clubbed together to buy the signs.”

The rest of this article appears in 17th February issue of Shooting Times.

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