Written question asked by Lembit Opik (Liberal Democrat) on Monday, 30 January 2006, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 1 February 2006. It was answered by Lord Knight of Weymouth (Labour) on Wednesday, 8 February 2006 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Cormorants

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many licences for the culling of cormorants were issued in England in 2005–06; how many cormorants were killed under licence in England in 2005–06; and if she will make a statement.

Answer: The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended) protects all wild birds. However, the Secretary of State has authority under section 16(1)(k) of the Act to grant licences to permit the killing of cormorants to prevent serious damage to fisheries. Licenses are only issued where DEFRA is satisfied that other non-lethal methods have been tried and found to be ineffective, and where there is no other satisfactory solution.Licences to shoot cormorants are normally issued for a limited period between 31 August and 15 April so we are still issuing licenses for the 2005–06 season. During the current licence period, 392 licences have been granted so far and 435 cormorants are recorded as having been killed.Further information on cormorants can be found on the DEFRA website at: http://www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-countryside/vertebrates/piscivorous.htm

Secondary information