Steven Mace
01-23-2002, 06:00 AM
Lead ban in Scotland: inevitable
By Robin MacDonald Rolfe
23/01/2002
The recent ban on lead shot for wildfowling in Wales now makes a lead ban in Scotland appear to be inescapable. The Scottish Executive may well have plenty of other things to concern itself with at present, but senior countryside figures believe the ban is coming, like it or not.
"A ban on lead shot in Scotland is inevitable,” said Ian McCall, the Game Conservancy Trust`s Director for Scotland. “A lot of Scots have pre-empted it by adopting a voluntary ban. Nevertheless, not to be able to shoot a teal, or snipe on a grouse moor using lead shot is lunacy".
This opinion seems to bear out the general consensus from Caithness to the Borders and it is largely considered unwelcome, especially as a suitable alternative has yet to be found.
"The original research was mishandled and misquoted,” commented Dr. Howard Gates, an expert in ballistics. “The evidence for environmental danger does not justify a ban. How many duck die through ingesting lead shot?”
"The situation in Wales may affect the forthcoming Scottish decision in one of two ways,” said Colin Shedden, BASC’s Scottish Director. “Firstly, the fact that the Welsh regulation is different from the English one (ie does not include waders) gives us considerable optimism that each country is free to go its own way. The Scottish solution may be radically different from both England and Wales. Secondly; the fact that the Welsh regulation is similar to the English could set a pattern, and Scotland may then feel it has to follow roughly the same route."
Personally, I think the Scottish Executive is keen to produce what it sees as the best solution for Scotland, and that it may take a different approach if it feels that is best. Certainly a year ago, the Executive appeared keen to do the exact opposite of what England did – hence the lack of any restriction in Scotland at present.
So the ban on using lead shot over wet lands is inevitable – but in Scotland, it will be later rather than sooner. Cold comfort indeed.
http://www.leadshot.com/story.asp?id=434
Steve Mace
By Robin MacDonald Rolfe
23/01/2002
The recent ban on lead shot for wildfowling in Wales now makes a lead ban in Scotland appear to be inescapable. The Scottish Executive may well have plenty of other things to concern itself with at present, but senior countryside figures believe the ban is coming, like it or not.
"A ban on lead shot in Scotland is inevitable,” said Ian McCall, the Game Conservancy Trust`s Director for Scotland. “A lot of Scots have pre-empted it by adopting a voluntary ban. Nevertheless, not to be able to shoot a teal, or snipe on a grouse moor using lead shot is lunacy".
This opinion seems to bear out the general consensus from Caithness to the Borders and it is largely considered unwelcome, especially as a suitable alternative has yet to be found.
"The original research was mishandled and misquoted,” commented Dr. Howard Gates, an expert in ballistics. “The evidence for environmental danger does not justify a ban. How many duck die through ingesting lead shot?”
"The situation in Wales may affect the forthcoming Scottish decision in one of two ways,” said Colin Shedden, BASC’s Scottish Director. “Firstly, the fact that the Welsh regulation is different from the English one (ie does not include waders) gives us considerable optimism that each country is free to go its own way. The Scottish solution may be radically different from both England and Wales. Secondly; the fact that the Welsh regulation is similar to the English could set a pattern, and Scotland may then feel it has to follow roughly the same route."
Personally, I think the Scottish Executive is keen to produce what it sees as the best solution for Scotland, and that it may take a different approach if it feels that is best. Certainly a year ago, the Executive appeared keen to do the exact opposite of what England did – hence the lack of any restriction in Scotland at present.
So the ban on using lead shot over wet lands is inevitable – but in Scotland, it will be later rather than sooner. Cold comfort indeed.
http://www.leadshot.com/story.asp?id=434
Steve Mace