BASC

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Wildfowling and Natura 2000An overview based
on feedback from wildfowlers Dr Conor
OGormanConservation Officer, BASC.
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Background

• BASC founded in 1908 as the Wildfowlers
  Association of Great Britain and Ireland (WAGBI)
• BASC the representative body for shooting in the
  UK with 123,000 members and 105 employees.
• BASC the main source of assistance for
  wildfowlers in the UK

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What is the impact of Natura 2000 on wildfowling?

• No known impact in Wales and Northern Ireland to
  date.
• No direct impact until this year in England.
• No direct positive influence anywhere to my
  knowledge. Possibly indirect?
• Can we view Natura 2000 as an opportunity for
  wildfowling?

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Bag statistics gathered by wildfowling clubs

• Hunter Name/id
• Club name
• Site name
• Date of visit
• Flight time
• Hours on site
• Cartridges fired
• Species taken

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Quarry species of duck
Anas crecca
Anas penelope
Anas platyrhynchos
Aythya ferina
Anas strepera
Anas clypeata
Aythya marila
Bucephala clangula
Aythya fuligula
Anas acuta
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Quarry species of goose
Anser anser
Branta canadensis
Anser albifrons
Anser brachyrhynchus
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Quarry species of wader
Gallinago gallinago
Numenius phaeopus
Lymnocryptes minimus
Pluvialis apricaria
Scolopax rusticola
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Examples of feedback

• We have been managing wildfowling on this estuary
  for decades why the sudden management focus on
  OUR activities
• The more information we provide the more it is
  used against us.
• Why do estuary management plans always focus on
  wildfowling as THE disturbing activity?
• Decisions are not based on science but on
  prejudice.

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Shooting outside SPA does not require consent and
shooting activity unknown
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The FACE-Natura 2000 project can help to

• Improve knowledge about guidelines concerning
  Natura 2000 related legislation and hunting
• Provide examples of good practice from around
  Europe to share with agencies and wildfowlers in
  the UK
• Provide a network of trusted colleagues to
  discuss case studies and learn from our successes
  and failures

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Questions and Discussion