Hannah Blythyn AC/AM

Gweinidog yr Amgylchedd
Minister for Environment

Members of the Greenland White-fronted Goose Wales Partnership

26 November 2018

Dear Member,

Greenland White-fronted Goose

I am writing to let you know that I have decided to remove the Greenland White-fronted
Goose (GWfG) from Schedule 2 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (WCA 1981),
making it an offence (under section 1 of the WCA 1981) to kill or take (or to injure in the
course of an attempt to kill) any GWfG outside the close season for that bird.
Under sections 1 and 2 of the WCA 1981, in England and Wales it is already illegal to shoot
GWfG during the close season as defined in the WCA 1981 Section 2(4)(c&d).

The background to this decision concerns a complaint under the Agreement on the
Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA). The complaint alleged the
UK had not met its obligations in failing to prohibit the hunting of the GWfG. In the UK
Government’s response to the complaint, the UK did not fully accept the allegations and, in
terms of Wales, the response noted that the voluntary moratorium on shooting GWfG is
working effectively, and is being adhered to by all the wildfowling clubs in Wales.

However, in June this year, the AEWA Standing Committee rejected the UK’s arguments,
concluding that a voluntary moratorium was insufficient to meet the UK’s legal obligations
under AEWA.

I have therefore decided that, in order to comply with our international obligations in Wales,
we will remove the Greenland White-fronted Goose from Schedule 2 of the WCA 1981,
prohibiting these birds from being killed or taken. I understand that Ministers in England
have come to the same conclusion, and that Defra will be writing to stakeholders in England
in similar terms.

Canolfan Cyswllt Cyntaf / First Point of Contact Centre:

Bae Caerdydd • Cardiff Bay 0300 0604400
Caerdydd • Cardiff Gohebiaeth.Hannah.Blythyn@llyw.cymru
CF99 1NA Correspondence.Hannah.Blythyn@gov.wales

Rydym yn croesawu derbyn gohebiaeth yn Gymraeg. Byddwn yn ateb gohebiaeth a dderbynnir yn Gymraeg yn Gymraeg ac ni fydd
gohebu yn Gymraeg yn arwain at oedi.

We welcome receiving correspondence in Welsh. Any correspondence received in Welsh will be answered in Welsh and corresponding
in Welsh will not lead to a delay in responding.
There are no plans to make any other changes to Schedule 2 to either add or remove any
other species. I anticipate this change will be brought into law in autumn 2019.

I understand that this decision will disappoint some members of GWfG Wales Partnership.
However, I would like to record my appreciation and thanks to the wildfowling community in
Wales for the effectiveness with which they have maintained the voluntary shooting
moratorium, which all parties accept has made a significant contribution to the conservation
of these iconic birds in Wales. I would also commend the ongoing work of the GWfG
Partnership in Wales, and hope that the valuable work continues.

Yours sincerely,

Hannah Blythyn AC/AM

Gweinidog yr Amgylchedd
Minister for Environment