Game Release Threat Overcome
NGO success in lobbying Parliament.
NGO helps ensure that move to licence game release is withdrawn in House of Lords.
Labour Peer Lord Carter had proposed an amendment to the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Bill with the well-meaning intention of controlling inappropriate release, for example of non-native species. But his amendement, believed to have been drafted by bird protectionists, would also have subjected the ordinary release of pheasants, partridges and even fish to a bureaucratic licensing process.
The NGO spotted this and made contact with Lord Carter who responded by withdrawing his amendment during last night’s debate. Lord Carter said: (Hansard 27/2/06 Column 39):
“The object of the amendment is straightforward. Having tabled it, I was approached with some urgency by the National Gamekeepers' Organisation, the CLA and the Game Conservancy Trust which pointed out that, as drafted, the amendment is unintentionally much too wide. As was pointed out by the National Gamekeepers' Organisation, the amendment appears to prohibit the release of all native and non-native animals, including birds and fish, unless such release is specifically licensed. As part of their job, thousands of gamekeepers release pheasants, partridges and duck to replenish wild stocks for shooting. They also release non-target animals and birds from live capture traps set to control other species. It is clear that the amendment as drafted is unintentionally much too wide.”
Commenting on the intended principle of regulating inappropriate release, a Government Minister said there would be a formal consultation in the next 12 – 15 months but she added:
“The development of effective policy depends on securing full stakeholder engagement and support, and it would be wrong to rush into legislation because this apparently convenient opportunity has arisen. We need to take all the implications and concerns into account.”
A spokesman for the NGO said the organisation was grateful to Lord Carter for withdrawing his amendment and to the Government for recognising gamekeepers’ concerns. He added that the organisation would play a full role in any official consultation on the matter.