Meeting to be held on Saturday 10 September 2011 at BASC, Marford Mill, Rossett, LL12 0HL

Present:         

• Lee Freeston – Chairman
• Tim Russell – Secretary
• Janette Lowrie – Minute Secretary
• David de Gernier
• Graham Downing
• John Graham
• Graham Crompton-Howe
• Mike Sherman
• Paul Evans
• Dave Nichols
• Tom McGoldrick
• Kenn Ball
• Matt Ellis                                                                    

1. Apologies

Apologies were received from John Harradine, John Dryden, Alan Jarrett, Mark Greenhough, Phil Pugh, Richard Playle, Paul Culley, Michael Rae and Richard Dicks.

2. Declaration of interests

No declarations of interest were made.

3. Minutes of last meeting

Following circulation of the minutes from the last meeting Graham Downing sent an email to the committee as he was unhappy with the wording of section 14.2. Graham thought the minute was not objective. Having reviewed the minute the secretary was inclined to agree and has adjusted the minutes to read as follows:

“Richard Playle on behalf of the EJC raised the matter of Kent Wildfowlers leasing land in what he regarded as being an underhand and inconsiderate way.”

This amendment was agreed by the committee.

4. Matters arising not on the agenda          

There were no matters arising not on the agenda.

5.1 BASC and land purchase

This subject has been discussed by BASC Council several times and there is little support for BASC buying land for game shooting or stalking.  Council recognises the importance of land purchase by wildfowling clubs, which is why Council continues to support the WHT. Lee Freeston plans to set up a small working group under Council's instruction to look at the matter again and consider if there are any points that have been missed.

The committee supported Lee Freeston setting up a working group.  John Graham volunteered to write a discussion document as a starting point for the group, he also said he would like to get an article on the subject in Shooting & Conservation. 

Paul Evans stated he would like to be part of the sub-group.   John Thornley will be asked to join.  Council members who are not wildfowlers would add a good mix to the group e.g. Peter Glenser.  Tim Russell and Paul Williamson would also be involved.

There was then a short discussion on how the WHT might get more support from wildfowlers.  Some clubs support the stamp and think it is an important part of the WHT and stopping the stamp would mean a loss in income as clubs and stamp buyers would probably not donate £5.

The committee suggested the ideal way for a club to make a contribution would be by standing order.  On their visits to clubs Paul Williamson and Mark Greenhough could encourage members to commit to this.  The WLC also need to get the message out there.

6. Review of advisory committees  

This is the last meeting of the current WLC, a new list of members has been agreed by Lee Freeston and will be approved by Council on 22 September. The Chairmen of the new committees have added terms of reference to a template document; these will also be agreed at the September Council meeting. The key terms of reference for this committee are:

1. To advise BASC on policy in the field of all matters relevant to wildfowling in the United Kingdom; and

2. To support liaison between BASC, wildfowling clubs and individual wildfowlers and thus allow a two-way flow of information.

In future, secretarial support for the committee will be provided by the Policy Development Manager, in the form of minute taking, arranging meetings and venues. The use of green approaches, email and teleconferencing will be encouraged.

The Chairman and secretariat will write up a report in May of each year to Council.

7. Recreational disturbance studies                                              

7.1 Humber

The Secretary has made the committee aware of this study in the past, the desk top part of the study was completed last autumn. The second phase of collecting visitor data, including information from wildfowlers has started and will continue until next spring. Bird monitoring and the effects of disturbance will be carried out over the 2012/13 winter.

7.2 Dorset

Richard Stillman attended the wildfowling conference this year and gave a presentation on disturbance.  BASC discovered Richard through their work with Footprint Ecology, the consultants working on the Humber.  Richard has developed models that look at disturbance on a number of estuaries and we are now working with him on a new project in Poole Harbour in conjunction with Dorset Wildfowlers.

BASC Research Officer Matt Ellis gave a presentation which he had made to the Dorset wildfowlers which explained the project and the concepts behind it in more detail.

The Committee recognised this work as being important and gave their support. 

8. Wildfowling conference update 

The conference has been booked for 24^th March 2012 at the same hotel as last year at Sutton Coldfield.

At this year’s conference delegates were asked to complete a feedback form, results showed:

93 delegates attended and 69 returned forms

90% said the venue was good or very good

92% said the facilities were good or very good

71% said the presentation by Richard Hearn from the WWT on the conservation status of European ducks was good or very good

71% said the presentation by David Stroud from JNCC on adaptive flyway management for migratory birds was good or very good

59% said the presentation by Richard Stillman on understanding disturbance was good or very good

71% said the discussion was good or very good

77% said lunch was good or very good

87% said the presentation by Guy-Noël Olivier was good or very good

71% said the presentation by Chris Gordon on feeding the fowling dog was good or very good

39% said the afternoon discussion was good or very good

Based on these figures we seem to have the right venue and format for the conference. There are clearly problems though when a speaker takes over twice as long as he says he will need.

The following suggestions for the 2012 conference were made.

Over the last 5 or 6 years we have had a couple of presentations on climate change and how it is causing short stopping of birds. Defra have funded a research project to look at this more closely because it has clear implications for policy relating to designated sites in the UK and also requirements for habitat management.

The research has been carried out by the BTO and RSPB and should be released this month. There are two people from the RSPB who could talk, one about site management issues and how to manage habitats better, the other about the policy issues this research raises. It might be difficult, but we could also try and get somebody from Defra to come and address the policy questions this raises.

Gwyn Williams, RSPB Head of Reserves and Protected Areas has agreed to give a talk about the RSPB’s land purchase strategy and conservation priorities for coastal areas.

Discussions have taken place with Angus Middleton at FACE to see if he can find a couple of speakers to talk about their wildfowling experiences in Europe.

The committee suggested:

Conor and his shooting experiences – something for the UK wildfowlers

Northern Ireland experiences

Chris Green – say ½ hour in the afternoon with a light hearted talk.

Workshops

9. Marine conservation zones

Under the Marine & Coastal Access Act there are provisions to designate parts of the marine habitat around England and Wales as protected areas to conserve certain habitats and species.  There are four separate project areas around England: 

Irish Sea Conservation Zone-which covers the Solway to the Bristol Channel

Finding Sanctuary-Covering the South West

Balanced Seas-Covering the south and south east area

Net Gain-Covering the North Sea from Suffolk to the Scottish border.

The new designations will be known as Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). The landward boundary for the majority of sites will be the mean low water mark but occasionally some areas may come higher than this.

The aim is to create a network of Marine Conservation Zones (MCZs) that will form part of a wider network of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). These sites will replicate other European sites – SPAs and SACs bringing protection to the seas.

The marine environment provides important ecosystem goods and services, including regulating the earth's climate, recreation, nutrient cycling and provision of food and raw materials. Unfortunately our seas are vulnerable to a range of threats such as climate change, pollution and habitat loss and degradation, all of which can have a negative impact on their value to society.

By reducing damaging activities in an area, an MPA can allow natural recovery of marine species.

There are 2 new levels of designation:

1-Marine Conservation Zones

2-Reference Areas

BASC have had contact with the Irish Sea Conservation Zone and been assured that under the MCZ’s proposed for this area, no extra restrictions will be placed on wildfowling (Solway, Ribble, Wyre/Lune).

BASC are in the process of seeking similar assurances from other project areas.

Reference areas are different. Where identified they carry more strict controls on the level of human activity within them.

John Graham has received a document showing all these sites around the country, and will send a copy out to everyone on the committee.

Graham Downing had some specific concerns for his club and will contact Mark Greenhough.

Mark Greenhough will contact all wildfowling clubs to brief them where he thinks there will be potential issues.

10. Wildfowling

10.1 Communications 

BASC hope to complete the wildfowling DVD this year.  There is a ‘mud walking’ film on the BASC website filmed at Langstone harbour. This links with the article in the current S&C. Everyone was encouraged to continue providing articles for S&C. The next S&C will carry an article on the wildfowling permit scheme, the one after that has an article by Mark Greenhough on the virtues of pattern testing.

10.2 Decline in wildfowling membership

The Committee discussed how they felt wildfowling membership was declining. After discussion it was agreed that there was considerable variation between clubs and their membership, some clubs still have a waiting list and other, smaller clubs are not particularly keen on getting new members. It was also recognised that club membership is not the same as wildfowlers as not all club members are wildfowlers.

The general feeling was that shooting as a sport is increasing, the number of firearm certificates is increasing and so is deer stalking.  There is much more readily available game shooting than ever before.  People that shoot have unlimited availability at reasonable rates.  Lots of people do lots of different shooting which is different to 10 or 20 years ago.

There was a general feeling though that more should be done to encourage people to take up wildfowling, including adult wildfowling courses and perhaps a ‘how to get into wildfowling’ film. 

The Committee recognised that the second part of the wildfowling survey had not been completed and felt this may provide an opportunity to find out more about the wildfowling membership. It was suggested that the new WLC committee consider this more once the new electronic forum is running. The Committee agreed they may answer the questions themselves without needing to go through the research department.

11. Lead                                                                                                  

Matt Ellis updated the committee on the progress of the Lead Ammunition Group (LAG), and its daughter group the Primary Evidence and Risk Assessment Sub Group (PERASG). LAG will not meet again until Food Standards Agency (Scotland) reports on its survey of game consumers, and PERASG completes the appropriate risk assessments.

12. Any Other Business                                                                   

12.1 The Law Commission has launched a review of the law concerning wildlife management. The Law Commission is an independent body which reviews the law of England and Wales and makes recommendations for reform. Law Commission reviews are based on extensive consultation and normally take a period of three years to complete. The final report will include a draft Bill which government may adopt and take through parliament. Around 75% of the Commission’s recommendations have been enacted since its inception in 1965.

Dr. Keith Vincent is the lead lawyer on the review and BASC have met him already. Dr Vincent has outlined the terms of the review which he said originated in a request from Defra.  The scope of the review is the legal framework for wildlife management. This will include:

Part 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981

The Conservation of Habitat and Species Regulations 2010

The Deer Act 1991

The Protection of Badgers Act 1992

The Game Acts

The Night Poaching Acts

Legislation relating to the control of invasive non-native species

Licences for pest control including the General Licences

Within this the Commission will consider systems relating to the quarry list and seasons. The review will also cover snaring and trapping. Any recommendations will be specific to England and Wales only. Dr Vincent stressed that the review is concerned with systems not species and he does not intend to analyse the levels of protection for individual species. He emphasised that the review would not consider the Hunting Act.

12.2 The North Wales Joint Council (NWJC) was cancelled as only 3 people were able to attend. 

12.3 A Chinese business man has bought a large area of North East Iceland.  It is difficult to predict if this will have any affect on bird numbers.  

12.4 Matt Ellis gave a presentation on severe weather at an international conference for game biologists, other countries are keen to introduce something similar to the UK system.