AVIAN PREDATION UPDATE.

APRIL 2025

The achievements as I prepare to close the petition down to its 'Declared Victory' (Reaching the Goal) stage. With your support the 'Avian Predation' problem throughout the UK and the fact that the licensing scheme has not worked, was brought to the notice of both 'National Resources Wales' and the 'Government at Westminster', by Lord Alex Carlile CBE KC.

Lord Carlile was invited to a Zoom meeting with 'National Resources Wales' and he reiterated our concerns regarding the 'Avian Predation Issues'. This resulted in the promise of a written answer to the questions posed to them, pre the zoom meeting, by Ben Wilson on behalf of NRW. This did not and has not materialised, the written response received did not answer the questions posed in a 90 page document. It beggars belief when Ben Wilson's, PHD was set on his studies into 'Avian Predation', but there we are?. I wonder if the NRW's report promised for 2025 will materialise?. 

Lord Carlile approached the Government in Westminster by way of 'Parlimentary Questions' and Baroness Hayman of Ullock responded answering Lord Carlile with a list of 'Avian Predation' culling licences issued and in my view a bypass of the relevant questions posed by Lord Carlile. I was asked to prepare a response to Barones Hayman's replies, in not more than 50 words per question in order that Lord Carlile could again approach the issue with Baroness Hayman.

I prepared the following.

(HL1184)

Quoting statutory duties, do not answer the questions raised, facts have and are being ignored by those charged with delivering those duties, hence the reason for posing the questions. The ministerial guidance of 2000 appears to have been ignored. Salmonids have now been declared as a species under threat of extinction.

(HL1183)

The continuing delay of placing 'Goosanders and Cormorants on the General Licence' will spell out and deliver the reported demise into extinction of Salmonids and eventually other freshwater fish species. These predators have no County or Country boundaries. This method worked pre 1981, and it will again if re-introduced.

Salmonids have been placed on the endangered species list. 'Avian Predation' views through Petitions (Year 2000 votes 23,000) (Year 2019 votes 56000) (Year 2024 votes 6500) has led to an unworkable and inefficient licensing scheme. 'General Licence' inclusion' is urgently required. The outcome of the continued demise rests solely at the hands of the continued obstinate decisions by those in charge.

Lord Carlile has advised that any other approach presently would be met with the same response. The various Petitions since the year 2000, have carried the facts to those that are empowered to deliver, only to learn that the old saying is true, you can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink. We hope that our efforts based on true facts will eventually have some effect on those powers in being and that a General Licence results.

Whilst the outcome did not produce the required result the 'Petition' has served its purpose.

I sincerely thank you all for your efforts in this.

Gwilym Hughes