GENERAL LICENCES

Four general licences for bird control in Wales, which were due to expire on 31 December 2021, will be reissued for a short period in 2022. 

Following a consultation by Natural Resources Wales, which ran for 12 weeks from 19 August to 11 November, the decision has been taken that the four current general licences which authorise lethal control (GL001, GL002, GL004 and GL005) will be extended while NRW consider the best way forward.

An NRW spokeperson said:

"Thank you to all who provided responses to our consultation on NRW’s approach to regulating the shooting and trapping of wild birds and the destruction of eggs and nests.

"We are very pleased with the level of engagement with the consultation. We received 620 responses, and we are now analysing the significant volume of views and information provided. We are also pleased that almost all responses were provided via our online consultation hub.

"We hope to be able to update you further before the Christmas break."

You can find out more about Welsh general licences for bird control on the NRW website. 

Further reading:

Changes to bird control licences in Wales: bpca.org.uk/News/changes-to-bird-control-general-licences-in-wales/236526

Wild Justice hearing given go-ahead over Welsh general licences: bpca.org.uk/News-and-Blog/wild-justice-hearing-go-ahead-over-welsh-general-licences

Natural Resources Wales General Licences: naturalresources.wales/permits-and-permissions/species-licensing/uk-protected-species-licensing/general-licences-for-birds-2020/?lang=en

A birds-eye view of general licences: bpca.org.uk/News/bpca-get-a-birds-eye-view-of-general-licences/234235

Licences for pest bird control: where are we now? bpca.org.uk/News/licences-for-pest-bird-control-where-are-we-now-/266015

Wild Justice: Our latest legal challenge: wildjustice.org.uk/general/test-3/

Wild Justice: Further success on general licences: wildjustice.org.uk/general/further-success-on-general-licences-this-time-in-wales/

Source: Online