Completed petition Introduce a Licence to manage land for game bird shooting in an attempt to end raptor persecution.
We call upon the Welsh Government to introduce a licensing scheme for game bird shooting. In order to prevent the persecution of raptors which is commonly associated with this activity.
The RSPB Birdcrime reports show an exceptionally high number of raptor persecution events are by gamekeepers, however despite this knowledge, very few persecution events are successfully prosecuted due to difficulties in gaining sufficient evidence to charge any specific individual.
Even in Scotland, where vicarious liability exists, prosecutions are rare. Because of this, we believe the next most appropriate course of action is to introduce a licensing scheme.
This licence should be a “Licence to operate a game bird shoot” The licence should as a minimum:
Apply to a geographic area defined in the application licence.
Be required for an estate to carry out any activity related to game bird shooting including, but not necessary be limited to:
2.a. Activities related to the rearing of gamebirds.
2.b. Activities related to the legal control of predators (estates must hold an operators licence before they can be permitted to apply for general or specific licences associated with “pest control activities”).
2.c. To allow members of the shoot to partake in gamebird shooting outside of the closed season.
2.d. To allow the shoot to sell shoot days to the public.
In the event of a persecution event, occurring on or near to an estates land the appropriate authority will be able to suspend the estates ability to carry out any or all of the activities listed under point 2. for a period of time Serious or, repeat persecution events should result in the estates operating licence being revoked.
This petition was considered by the Petitions Committee
Find out about the Petitions Committee’s discussion of this petition