BASC praises wildfowlers’ response to NE consultation

BASC has welcomed the ‘impressive’ response from wildfowlers to Natural England’s (NE) consultation on consents.

NE has published a summary of the 613 submissions to its review and revealed that around 92 per cent of those came from wildfowlers.

But BASC challenges NE’s assertion that respondents widely supported the option of bag limits as an effective mechanism for regulation.

Paul Williamson, BASC head of wildfowling, said: “The number of wildfowling clubs and individuals who engaged with this consultation is impressive.

“However, BASC stands by its consultation response that there is no established evidence linking wildfowling bags and negative waterfowl population trends. We now await NE publishing a proposal paper which will outline the options.”

John Dryden, chair of BASC’s wildfowling liaison committee, said: “Individual wildfowlers and clubs up and down the UK have made their voices heard. BASC will continue to engage with our affiliated wildfowling clubs during the next phase of this consultation.”

BASC is inviting affiliated clubs to attend a meeting on 21 April at the Ramada Hotel, Sutton Coldfield, to discuss NE’s proposals. The summary of responses can be found by visiting the wildfowling section of the BASC website: https://basc.org.uk/wildfowling/wildfowling-advice/wildfowling-consents-consultation/