The Secretary of State for the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra), Steve Barclay, has officially approved a new General Licence (GL45).
This license is designed to facilitate the release of gamebirds across 30 Special Protected Areas (SPAs), marking a big change in the regulatory landscape governing wildlife conservation and gamebird management.
This announcement comes in the wake of last year’s contentious modifications to the previous licence (GL43), which were introduced with merely 21 days’ notice. These changes were met with considerable opposition from the National Gamekeepers Organisation (NGO), who criticised them as “unacceptable, unjustified, and potentially unlawful.” In response, the NGO has actively engaged with lawmakers and policymakers over the past year to prevent a recurrence of such abrupt regulatory changes, aiming to secure a more stable and predictable framework for the upcoming shooting season.
John Clarke, the director of conservation, policy, and uplands at the NGO, commented on the efforts leading to this development: “The NGO have been working tirelessly behind the scenes, engaging with Defra to get the best possible result for shoots who wish to release game birds on SPA sites. We hosted the Defra licensing team out on the ground to discuss the issues, and we feel that this work has been instrumental in the return of the General Licence on all sites bar two.”
Clarke further assured that the NGO would assist any estates that fall outside the coverage of GL45 in securing individual licences tailored to their specific circumstances.
The newly approved GL45, which is now accessible through the GOV.uk website, will permit the controlled release of pheasants and red-legged partridges in or around the designated SPAs, subject to compliance with specific conditions detailed within the licence. This regulatory permission extends from 31 May 2024 to 1 February 2025, offering a comprehensive window for the upcoming shooting seasons.
Defra has issued guidance for shoots located on or near a SPA covered by GL45, encouraging them to proceed with their gamebird orders, provided they can adhere to the licence conditions. Conversely, shoots situated within 500 metres of a SPA not covered by GL45, or those unable to meet the licence stipulations, are advised to apply for an individual licence.
To streamline this process, Defra has published comprehensive guidance on obtaining individual licences, and the application process is now open. Shoots requiring individual licences are recommended to delay their gamebird orders and adjust their business planning until their application status is clarified, ensuring compliance with the regulatory framework.
About
The National Gamekeepers’ Organisation (NGO) was founded in 1997 by a group of gamekeepers who felt that their profession was threatened by public misunderstanding and poor representation. The NGO is a membership organisation for all shooters and not just gamekeepers.
www.nationalgamekeepers.org.uk