The UK’s largest shooting organisation, the British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC), has helped to ensure that a controversial amendment tabled during a debate on the Wildlife & Natural Environment Bill, in the Northern Ireland Assembly, has been dropped.
BASC led a campaign in opposition to Amendment 23 which sought to give the Northern Ireland Environment Agency power to prohibit or restrict shooting on land surrounding or adjoining Areas of Special Scientific Interest.
Tommy Mayne, of BASC Northern Ireland, said: "We are delighted that this controversial amendment has been dropped. BASC co-ordinated a joint response, which took the form of a document setting out our objections to the proposed amendment . The document was supported by Countryside Alliance Ireland, Ulster Farmers Union, Bann Systems, the Ulster Clay Pigeon Shooters Association and the British Deer Society. The new powers were unnecessary as sufficient legal protection already exists. Having looked at the issue, the committee has come to the sensible conclusion that Amendment 23 should be dropped.”
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ENDS