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British bird quarry species review

A consultation took place from 23 March to 17 May on proposed changes to the bird quarry species and seasons in England, Wales and Scotland.

BASC launched a campaign encouraging people to respond to the consultation, opposing a proposed ban or reduced shooting season for 8 quarry species, and supporting the addition of woodpigeon and other species onto the quarry lists.

What were the main proposals?

Pochard: remove from quarry list in England, Wales and Scotland.
European white-fronted goose: remove from quarry list in England and Wales; no
change for Scotland.
Goldeneye: remove from quarry list in England and Wales; shorten open season in Scotland.
Pintail: remove from quarry list in England; shorten open season in Wales and Scotland.
Snipe: shorten open season in England and Scotland; remove from quarry list in Wales.
Woodcock: shorten open season in England, Wales and Scotland.
Coot: no change in England and Scotland; remove from quarry list in Wales.
Golden plover: no change in England and Scotland; remove from quarry list in Wales.
Woodpigeon: add to quarry list in England, Wales and Scotland.
Other species: invitation for suggestions on adding species to the quarry lists.

BASC’s consultation response

In a detailed evidence-led response BASC recommended that Defra (for England), the Welsh government and Scottish government endorse BASC’s sustainable shooting code of practice rather than pursuing unnecessary and unevidenced restrictions.

We used an extensive evidence base to inform the creation of BASC’s sustainable shooting framework and subsequent sustainable shooting code. That data was updated and analysed against the evidence provided within the consultation.

BASC Council’s wildfowling liaison committee played a key role in the development of our framework, code and response to the consultation. The European Federation for Hunting and Conservation (FACE) supported our position in an open letter to the secretary of state.

Where appropriate BASC challenged the quality of Defra’s evidence and its interpretation, the proportionality of the recommendations; and we provided evidence of how self-regulation through our code of practice provided a better long-term mechanism for the management of sustainable shooting rather than imposing statutory bans or reduced shooting seasons

BASC created and used its sustainable shooting framework to justify a list of 24 species for inclusion on the quarry lists in England, Wales and Scotland.

List of species to add to the quarry lists

BASC has recommended adding the following 24 bird species to the quarry lists in England, Wales and Scotland for wildlife management and / or the harvest of wild food.

brent goose (Branta bernicla)
carrion crow (Corvus corone)
common gull (Larus canus)
common scoter (Melanitta nigra)
cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo)
Egyptian goose (Alopochen aegyptiacus)
Eurasian jay (Garrulus glandarius)
goosander (Mergus merganser)
great black-backed gull (Larus marinus)
herring gull (Larus argentatus)
jackdaw (Coloeus monedula)
lesser black-backed gull (Larus fuscus)

magpie (Pica pica)
mandarin duck (Aix galericulata)
monk parakeet (Myiopsitta monachus),
raven (Corvus corax)
red-breasted merganser (Mergus serrator)
red-crested pochard (Netta rufina)
rook (Corvus frugilegus)
rose-ringed parakeet (Psittacula krameri).
ruddy duck (Oxyura jamaicensis)
starling (Sturnus vulgaris).
stock dove (Columba oenas)
woodpigeon (Columba palumbus)

What happens next?

The outcome of the consultation is scheduled for 10 August.

Meanwhile, as a key stakeholder, BASC is in contact with Defra and the devolved administrations in Wales and Scotland to discuss its recommendations and the evidence underpinning that.

What can I do?

Widespread support and uptake of BASC’s sustainable shooting code is key to our self-regulation argument. Please read it, adopt and implement actions where relevant, and share it with others.

View BASC’s sustainable shooting code of practice