13.05.10

Proposals for the new Wildlife and Natural Environment Bill, released yesterday, show that the Scottish Government has dropped key changes which would have benefitted animal welfare and reduced the suffering caused to wild animals in the countryside.

The Bill, which updates legislation on a range of issues including deer management, game laws, introduced species and snaring is expected to be released later this month. According to the proposals, the Bill:

. WILL NOT ban snaring. A ban on snares would be supported by 77% of people in Scotland.  Instead, it is proposed to introduce an accreditation scheme in the form of compulsory training. Advocates for Animals does not believe such measures will stop animals suffering in snares and will continue to campaign for them to be banned under this legislation.

. WILL NOT require compulsory competence requirement for anybody wishing to shoot a deer. The Government originally proposed this requirement to demonstrate practical skills and knowledge 'To instil greater public confidence in deer stalking and to protect deer welfare and public and food safety'.

. WILL RETAIN the unauthorised shooting of deer during their close seasons by owner-occupiers of agricultural land or enclosed woodland to protect their crops.

. WILL NOT require those shooting deer at night to have demonstrated skills and knowledge of night shooting.

. CREATES NEW POWERS for eradicating invasive non-native species or native species considered invasive, when they move outside their native ranges.