12 Poultry owners will have to record birds with Government

»»NEW measures to better protect the poultry sector from future avian influenza outbreaks have been set out by the Government.

Under the changes announced by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) there will be new requirements for all bird-keepers to register their birds officially, regardless of the size of their flock. Currently only those who keep 50 or more head of poultry must do so.

By registering their birds, Defra says, keepers will ensure they receive important updates relevant to them, such as on any local avian disease outbreaks and information on biosecurity rules to help protect their flocks.

This will help to manage potential disease outbreaks, such as avian influenza and Newcastle disease, and limit any spread.

The changes follow the UK’s worst outbreak of avian flu, with more than 360 cases recorded across Great Britain since late October 2021, including in a significant number of backyard flocks.

In England and Wales keepers are encouraged to register their birds ahead of the legal deadline on October 1, 2024.

Further information can be found at www.gov.uk

Christine Middlemiss, the UK’s chief veterinary officer, said: “These new rules will enable us to have a full picture of the number and location of birds kept across Great Britain, making it easier to track and manage the spread of avian disease”.

MORE than 480,000 items of litter were removed from UK beaches in 2023 as part of a nationwide survey.

During the annual beach-clean conducted by the Marine Conservation Society (MCS) 14,721 volunteers picked up rubbish from their local beaches and recorded the number of items found within a 100metre stretch.

Publishing its annual State Of Our Beaches report the charity said drinks-related litter, such as plastic bottles, caps and cans, were one of the most-found items, with an average of 16 found per 100m of beach surveyed – up 14% compared with the figures in its 2022 report.

Plastic caps and lids were also recorded on 89% of surveys, with more than 30,000 found in total, the MCS said.

Single-use plastic bottles were extensively reported, with 73% of surveys finding the item, a 4% increase compared with 2022.

The MCS’s inland litter-pick survey, Source to Sea, also reported plastic bottles being found on 92% of clean-up events.

The charity said in total 480,343 items of litter, weighing 17.2 tonnes, were picked up from the coast last year, up 22% from 2022.

In 2023 another 658 more volunteers joined the operation, submitting 1,119 litter surveys, the highest number the charity has received in 30 years of the initiative.

The MCS report also showed that some types of litter were on a downward trend. Although still in the top 10 litter items, disposable plastic cutlery, trays and straws were found on 5% fewer beaches across the UK

– bans on these plastic items were introduced last year – and the number of plastic cotton bud sticks dropped by 14%.

Lizzie Price, Beachwatch manager at the Marine Conservation Society, said: “Half of the litter found on our beaches originates from public sources, underscoring the pressing issue of single-use plastic.

“Evidence shows that refillable alternatives and litter return schemes effectively reduce rubbish, as demonstrated by the decline our data has shown in items such as plastic bags and disposable cutlery.

“Urgent and decisive action from UK governments is needed to accelerate our shift towards a circular economy, where we reuse, repair and recycle”.

6Single-use plastic bottles were found in roughly three-quarters of beach cleans in 2023 Marine Conservation Society