Where will you be going wildfowling in 20 to 50 years time?

29 January 2010

The location of mudflats and saltmarsh on some of the best wildfowling sites in England and Wales could be affected by the decisions taken on flood risk management, following a series of consultations taking place on shoreline management plans.

BASC position on a gamebirds welfare code for England

18 January 2010

BASC has supported traditional game rearing practices by calling and end to the use on battery pheasant cages, in its response to a Defra consultation on a draft gamebirds welfare code. The reason for BASC's position on this issue and others can be found in our Key Issue briefing, which includes a full copy of our response.

Welsh general licences for pest birds published - no changes in law until 1 July 2010

11 January 2010

The Welsh Assembly Government has published its 2010 general licences, including those for pest birds. There are no changes in law. However, an announcement is expected this Spring on what changes may take effect from 1 July 2010 onwards.

Councils to receive funding for coastal change projects

3 December 2009

A list of councils, how much money they will get, and what that money can be spent on, has been published by Defra in follow-up to their coastal change policy. Funding ranges from £38,000 to £1.5 million per council. This is an opportunity for wildfowlers and other shooters to engage in local coastal change projects including managed retreat projects that could provide new shooting and conservation opportunities.

Good news for wildfowlers on coastal access

1 December 2009

A proposal to grant Natural England powers to restrict or exclude public access to mudflats or saltmarsh will be welcome news for wildfowlers if this proposal is approved by Defra. Read more about this and other proposals on coastal access in BASC’s response to a consultation on amendments to the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000.

BASC looks out for home loaders and pest controllers on EU laws

12 November 2009

BASC has sought clarity on a number of issues of relevance to UK shooters in response to consultations that affect ammunition and its components for home loading; for the use of scaring cartridges, rockets, rope bangers, mole smokes, flares and signal smoke.

BASC calls for a better deal for shooters within the public forest estate

28 September 2009

BASC believes that there are currently double standards in the way in which recreational activities are supported within the public forest. For example mountain bikers and walkers enjoy the provision of extra infrastructure to support their activities whereas shooters have to pay for the rights to shoot over the forest and then pay for the shoots' infrastructure.

Bird disturbance study overlooked in draft Stour & Orwell estuaries management strategy

13 August 2009

The draft strategy for the management of the Stour and Orwell estuaries overlooks key findings from a recent recreational study which found that walkers, dog walkers and boats were responsible for the most disturbance on the estuaries. BASC has commented on this and other aspects of the strategy in its consultation response.

Wildfowling is a sustainable activity on Caerlaverock National Nature Reserve

11 August 2009

BASC welcomes the acknowledgement by Scottish Natural Heritage that wildfowling is a sustainable activity on Caerlaverock National Nature Reserve. BASC has provided recommendations for the future management of the site for shooting and conservation.

BASC Supports the Welsh Assembly Government Proposals to Eradicate Bovine Tuberculosis in Wales.

30 July 2009

The consultation seek views on an Order to allow for badger control strategies, alongside cattle measures, to pursue the eradication of bovine tuberculosis in Wales.