Concerns continue around long-term impact of bird flu

A number of cases of avian influenza have already been recorded in areas of France since the start of the new gamebird season in August

As avian influenza cases continue to increase in the crucial gamebirdrearing areas of France, Shooting Times and a number of shooting organisations have begun to look ahead at potential impacts on the 2023 season.

The supply of gamebirds from France to the UK was heavily disrupted this spring due to import restrictions and a lack of supply arising from an exceptionally severe outbreak of bird flu in northern France.

Gamebird production in France is centered in the Pays de la Loire region, particularly the departments of Vendée and Loire-atlantique. Both of these departments have already begun to record bird flu cases since 1 August, which is considered to be the new bird season in France — 12 cases have been recorded in Vendée and two in Loire-atlantique.

While these may drop off as winter progresses, it is more typical for case numbers to increase as weather becomes colder and more migrating wildfowl arrive. The French government has now raised the risk level for bird flu from ‘moderate’ to ‘high’.

Explaining this decision, France’s minister of agriculture and food sovereignty Marc Fesneau said: “In a context marked by unprecedented persistence of the virus in the environment and strong migratory activity of wild birds, it is essential to strengthen preventive measures.”

Dominic Boulton of Aim to Sustain and the Game Farmers’ Association told Shooting Times: “It is far too early to make predictions about the impact that avian influenza will have on our supplies of eggs and chicks next year, whether from domestic sources or overseas.

“The situation is being monitored closely and we are liaising with our colleagues in France and with Defra to make sure that every effort is made to avoid a repeat of the problems we saw last spring. Whether there are shortages or surpluses will depend as much on demand as it will on supply.”

Concerns continue to be raised in the shooting community over the impact of bird flu, both on this season but also in the long term. Antishooting campaign groups have used the issue to lobby against gamebird imports, gamebird releases and wildfowling.

In the UK the picture continues to be very concerning, with 111 cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza recorded since 1 October.

Matt Cross

“It is typical for case numbers to increase with colder weather”

There are worries that next year’s shooting season will also be affected