Worst outbreak of bird flu?

SGA stands firm on lead ban

More than 100 cases of avian influenza have now been confirmed since the bird flu season began in October. The entire season last year produced 134 cases, suggesting that the UK is likely to experience its worst-ever outbreak of the disease.

The epidemic has continued to spread rapidly across the UK. While cases remain mainly concentrated in the east of England, during the past seven days there have been new cases right across the country. New control and surveillance zones have been imposed from Cumnock in Ayrshire to Torpoint in Cornwall.

A national housing order remains in force

The Scottish Gamekeepers Association (SGA) has maintained its total opposition to a ban on the use of lead ammunition. The association was the only one of the country’s shooting and gamekeeping organisations not to back the voluntary five-year transition away from the use of lead put forward by Aim to Sustain.

A phased ban on the use of lead ammunition is being consulted on under the UK REACH chemical across England (News, 9 November). This requires poultry keepers to house their birds.

The order also prevents the release of gamebirds that are currently held in captivity, so that shoots cannot ‘top up’. While topping-up is not banned regulations framework. Over the past fortnight, shooting organisations have been publishing their responses to the consultation, and the SGA has reaffirmed its stance of complete opposition to the ban.

Opening its response, the SGA said: “The Scottish Gamekeepers Association disagrees with the premise behind the move to ban lead ammunition. While acknowledging risk, the extent of the risk, we believe, is contextual and in Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland, it is considered poor practice.

The situation in France is also rapidly worsening, with the crucial gamebirdproducing department of Vendée once again experiencing a spike in cases, as it did in the spring. must be balanced against other harms. Following on from this, we therefore do not agree with the timescales for phasing out lead ammunition.”

The association’s opposition to a ban has proved popular among its members and has been lauded by some.

However, a Suffolk wildfowler said that he has shot plenty of birds with steel and that the idea that steel shot doesn’t work is “utter bunkum”.

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The Scottish Gamekeepers Association is staunch in its refusal to accept the phasing out of lead

There have been new cases of bird flu right across the country What do you think is the optimum number of drives on a driven day? 65% Six