New RSPB policy ‘a step in the right direction’

The Wild Animal Welfare Committee welcomes the results of the RSPB’s review of its policy on gamebird shooting.

 In 2019, the charity announced that it intended to review the environmental impacts of driven grouse shooting and the release of millions of non-native pheasants and partridges, as well as the land management associated with these activities.  The review covered the available scientific literature on the effects of driven grouse shooting and high-density gamebird releases, while members and other stakeholders were able to respond to a public consultation on seven proposed conservation principles.  Kevin Cox, Chair of the RSPB Council, stressed at the AGM on Saturday 10 October that the review was not about the ethics of shooting, on which the charity remains neutral.

 The focus of the review included the ongoing and systematic illegal persecution of birds of prey; the continuing use of lead ammunition; the ecological impact of high numbers of gamebirds released into the countryside; and the burning of vegetation on peatlands.  The WAWC submitted a response highlighting the animal welfare consequences of gamebird shooting and associated practices and these issues were acknowledged in the seven principles document:

Others’ primary motivation is the welfare of individual animals, and some are driven by the commercial and recreational potential of land management. The RSPB understands and respects these views, yet they differ from the RSPB’s values and charitable objectives which guide the choices we make. That said, we believe that all gamebird shooting should be undertaken in accordance with high standards of animal welfare; should protect public safety; and take account of other wider societal expectations of best practice. These are the standards that we expect from all land management practices and from natural resource exploitation. Indeed, the RSPB reflects these standards in all our work, including through our Vertebrate Control Policy and the work of our Ethics Advisory Committee.

 In addition to the seven conservation principles, the RSPB position on gamebird shooting is now that:

·      New laws backed up by tougher enforcement are needed to end the illegal killing of birds of prey, to end the use of lead ammunition and to end vegetation burning on peatlands. 

·      All intensive gamebird shooting should be regulated to reduce the negative environmental impacts. 

·      The intensification of land management practices for driven grouse shooting over the last two decades is unsustainable and damaging

·      The introduction of licences for driven grouse shoots is the most effective way to improve the environmental condition of the uplands.  Breach of the related environmental standards would result in losing the right to shoot.

 ·      The charity will assess progress annually and review its position within five years.  Failure to deliver effective reform will result in the RSPB calling for a ban on driven grouse shooting.

·      The RSPB is keen to work with public bodies and the shooting sector to address the issues arising from the annual release of at least 57 million non-native pheasants and red-legged partridges. Important first steps would be to ensure a reduction in the number of gamebirds being released and full compliance with existing reporting rules. Further regulation will be necessary to drive up environmental standards and the RSPB will call for this within 18 months if significant progress is not secured.

The WAWC response argued that, in addition to the proposed changes advocated by RSPB, shooting must be done humanely and that as a minimum all shooters must:  

• Demonstrate competence verified by a 3rd party.

• Use firearms and ammunition appropriate to the species.

• Exercise caution and only shoot when a clean kill can be expected.  This includes not shooting beyond a maximum distance.

• Pick up the carcases of animals that have been shot and promptly dispatch wounded animals.

• Demonstrate competence in the humane killing of wounded animals.

• Search for and kill humanely any dependent young left after shooting.

These matters are not specifically addressed in the RSPB policy.  Nonetheless, Alick Simmons, the WAWC member who drafted the Committee’s response, described the announcements as “as step in the right direction”. 

Meanwhile, the WAWC continues to examine related issues such as trapping and snaring associated with gamebird shooting.

See the RSPB policy position here

See the RSPB conservation principles here

See the WAWC submission to the review here