BASC Wales
BASC responds to Welsh CAP consultation
A Welsh Government consultation has taken place on CAP implementation in Wales and BASC’s response’s to the consultation was submitted on 26th November.
BASC Central
Decision made on English marine conservation zones
Following several years of discussions and consultation 27 English marine conservation zones (MCZ) were designated on 21st November. Following representation from BASC ‘reference areas’ which could have banned wildfowling within were dropped from proposals for MCZs in England.
BASC Wales
Greenland white-fronted geese return to Wales
Greenland white-fronted geese have arrived back at the Dyfi estuary, their main wintering ground in Wales. Local wildfowlers first spotted the geese on the estuary on the 25th October. Since the 1970s wildfowling clubs on the estuary have been protecting the geese with an effective voluntary moratorium on shooting.
BASC Central
Will CAP benefit shooting and conservation?
BASC will help put shooting and conservation on the agenda in discussions on how the subsidies for the Common Agriculture Policy (CAP) will be spent across the UK. The implementation of CAP could provide direct financial support for shooting as an activity as well as indirectly through financing the creation of habitats.
BASC Central
Shooting protects threatened habitats
BASC has corrected references which described shooting as a high threat to UK forests in a major report to the European Commission. The intention was to describe deer grazing, browsing and trampling as a significant problem, not shooting. BASC’s amendments were adopted and the UK report has been revised, submitted and published.
BASC Northern Ireland
Age reduction for young shooters in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland Justice Minister David Ford is considering lowering the age at which young people can have supervised access to shotguns and airguns to 12 years. The change has NOT happened yet, as it will have to be agreed by the Justice Committee prior to implementation however BASC and others organisations believe that 10 years of age would be more appropriate as this is the age of criminal responsibility in NI.
BASC Central
European Commission firearms proposals flawed
The Home Affairs Directorate General of the European Commission has put forward proposals to completely rewrite the EU Firearms Directive by 2015. FACE, the European Hunters’ representative organisation is opposing the proposals with the assistance of BASC and other FACE UK members.
BASC Central
RSPCA access to firearms licensing information
In August BASC wrote to police forces seeking formal assurances that they did not allow the RSPCA to have access to firearms licensing information. Assurances have been given by Bedfordshire Police, Hertfordshire Constabulary, Lincolnshire Police, South Wales Police, Police Scotland and Police Service of Northern Ireland.
