Act now against Welsh government gamebird release restrictions, urges BASC
BASC is urging members and the wider rural community to stand up against the Welsh government’s proposals to restrict gamebird releasing.
Get information on the legal shooting season for mammals and birds in the UK.
Learn about our current conservation projects and how you can get involved.
Comprehensive information and advice from our specialist firearms team.
Everything you need to know about shotgun, rifle and airgun ammunition.
Find our up-to-date information, advice and links to government resources.
Everything you need to know on firearms law and licensing.
All the latest news and advice on general licences and how they affect you.
Defra has created confusion, concern and worry among hundreds of shoots by failing to put in place a clear regime for releasing gamebirds on protected areas and buffer zones.
On May 30, the general licence covering releasing of pheasants and red-legged partridges on European protected sites expired, making it illegal to release gamebirds without applying and securing an individual licence.
Defra has yet to announce and provide clarity of how the release of gamebirds will be undertaken in these areas – but is directing shoots to a web-based survey which indicates that some shoots on some designated areas will have to apply for an individual licence but others will not.
Defra has not provided any information on its decision-making process behind the banning of releasing in these areas. Releasing gamebirds away from protected sites remains unaffected by this decision.
BASC chief executive Ian Bell said: “Defra has refused to engage with the shooting community on this issue and has created massive confusion and concern at a critical point in the year when shoots are on the brink of releasing.
“This is wholly unacceptable behaviour by a government department and will not go unchallenged by BASC. We will be pressing Defra and government in the strongest of terms.
“Defra has released only limited information at the moment, so BASC will continue to update our members and the wider shooting community as more information becomes available.”
BASC is urging members and the wider rural community to stand up against the Welsh government’s proposals to restrict gamebird releasing.
You can be in with the chance of winning £250 in cash by answering questions about your approach to controlling rats.
The BBC’s Farming Today programme has covered the consequences of Defra’s changes to the general licence for gamebird release in protected areas (known as GL43).
Sign up to our weekly newsletter and get all the latest updates straight to your inbox.
© 2024 British Association for Shooting and Conservation. Registered Office: Marford Mill, Rossett, Wrexham, LL12 0HL – Registered Society No: 28488R. BASC is a trading name of the British Association for Shooting and Conservation Limited which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) under firm reference number 311937.
If you have any questions or complaints about your BASC membership insurance cover, please email us. More information about resolving complaints can be found on the FCA website or on the EU ODR platform.
This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.
Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.
If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.
This website uses Google Analytics to collect anonymous information such as the number of visitors to the site, and the most popular pages.
Keeping this cookie enabled helps us to improve our website.
Please enable Strictly Necessary Cookies first so that we can save your preferences!
More information about our Cookie Policy