The Northern Ireland Assembly has voted to regulate rather than ban the use of snares, and to retain golden plover on the quarry list after a joint lobbying campaign by BASC Northern Ireland and Countryside Alliance Ireland.
Tommy Mayne of BASC Northern Ireland said: “We welcome the decision to retain the use of snares, which are an essential tool in pest control. We will now work with the Department of the Environment to ensure that regulations covering the use of snares are workable and effective. We are disappointed at the removal of curlew from the quarry list however we are delighted to have retained golden plover as there was no evidence to support its removal”.
A decision has yet to be taken on a last-minute proposal to amend the Wildlife and Natural Environment Bill which would grant the Department of the Environment powers to prohibit or restrict shooting in, or, surrounding or adjoining ASSIs across the Province. BASC Northern Ireland is working with CAI and other organisations to lobby Environment Minister Edwin Poots and Members of the Legislative Assembly to reject this poorly conceived proposal.
ENDS
For more information please call the BASC press office on 01244 573031