Written question asked by Norman Baker (Liberal Democrat) on Monday, 14 March 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 21 March 2005. It was answered by Ben Bradshaw (Labour) on Monday, 21 March 2005 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what action her Department is taking to ensure that the granting of licences for the control of cormorants does not lead to the killing of nesting birds.

Answer: Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what action her Department is taking to ensure that the granting of licences for the control of cormorants does not lead to the killing of nesting birds. [222300] Mr. Bradshaw: Licences to shoot cormorants are normally issued between 31 August and 15 April which avoids the main cormorant breeding season (eggs: 20 March to 1 July, unfledged young: 20 April to 1 September). Some licences are extended to 30 April if smolt runs are likely to be affected by cormorant predation. The presence of a cormorant nesting site close to a proposed licensed site is taken into consideration when assessing the suitability of the site for licensed action; the licence period may be adjusted to avoid taking cormorants which may have dependent young. English Nature is consulted on all applications for licences to shoot cormorants outside of t he "normal" period of 31 August to 15 April. These applications may be refused on the basis of humaneness if nesting cormorants and their young are likely to be affected.

Secondary information