'British big game hunters to be banned from bringing trophies home'

[Woodsmoke]

So the UK government have made it official. No more trophy imports, although at this stage it appears to be a proposed bill rather than actual ratified legislation.

MSN

George Eustace, that champion of free speech and fair play, has stated “We will be leading the way in protecting endangered animals and helping to strengthen and support long-term conservation”.

As an aside, I note the article mentions polar bears will be included. Polar bears!

I hope the big guns in our shooting organisations are all over this?

 

[Mick9abf]

I suspect this is a done deal now as it matters not what the organisations or countries it will effect have said, people like the real conservationists who understand the value that sustainable hunting brings to species, particularly in poor and developing countries.

I can’t seem to find the full list of species, which apparently has been increased?

 

[Woodsmoke]

I think you're probably right. It strikes me as being a sop to the ignorant masses by those who wish to garner support so they continue to feather their own nests at the expense of democracy itself. It disgusts me to the very core to think of the self-serving, cretinous 'leadership' this country has inflicted on itself

 

[User00030]

I suspect this is a done deal now as it matters not what the organisations or countries it will effect have said, people like the real conservationists who understand the value that sustainable hunting brings to species, particularly in poor and developing countries.

I can’t seem to find the full list of species, which apparently has been increased?

This is a private members bill from labour mp John spellar as the animal abroad bill has been put on hold. This bill will include every single animal and animal part. you would no longer be able to bring home boar tusks from Europe or a sika head from Ireland. if Scotland get independence then it’s likely you would be in breach of the act and face 5 years in prison if you took your well earned skull mount home across the border. I couldn’t find the details but I’m sure this will include the export of trophies outside the U.K. which will no doubt have an effect on hunting tourism in the U.K.

 

[Marcher]

Could someone post the actual words of the new rules please.
I thought I read that elephants etc. were added to the list of Endangered species that we cannot bring home. I had assumed we could continue to bring the usual trophies from Non-endangered species home. ?

 

[User00030]

Could someone post the actual words of the new rules please.
I thought I read that elephants etc. were added to the list of Endangered species that we cannot bring home. I had assumed we could continue to bring the usual trophies from Non-endangered species home. ?

Hunting Trophy Import (Prohibition) Bill - Parliamentary Bills - UK Parliament

Current version of Hunting Trophy Import (Prohibition) Bill with latest news, sponsors, and progress through Houses

bills.parliament.uk

Link for the private members bill

UK to lead the way on animal welfare through flagship new Action Plan

UK launches first ever action plan to improve the welfare and conservation of animals at home and abroad

www.gov.uk

Link for animals abroad bill

 

[Marcher]

Thanks Griffer. That's what I expected. We can bring trophies home from Non endangered species.

 

[User00030]

Thanks Griffer. That's what I expected. We can bring trophies home from Non endangered species.

Unfortunatly not under the private members bill. It’s over 7000 species most non threatened and will require the registration of trophies pre ban with the Secretary of State. I for one have many trophies I have no import documentation for. I assume would need to be destroyed.

 

[Cranborne]

My understanding is that the new measures are being proposed by Defra rather than contained in a private members bill:

Wildlife and animal welfare - GOV.UK

www.gov.uk

You'll need to scroll down to the News & Communications section, as I don't seem to be able to post a direct link to today's press release.

 

[Mick9abf]

My understanding is that the new measures are being proposed by Defra rather than contained in a private members bill:

Wildlife and animal welfare - GOV.UK

www.gov.uk

You'll need to scroll down to the News & Communications section, as I don't seem to be able to post a direct link to today's press release.

Trying to find what your actually looking for is like wading through ****ing treacle!!!

Still can’t find the CITES A+B list.

 

[Gsd99]

This is disgusting and needs to be a wake up call for our entire industry. Whilst the government and individuals around the government are largely to blame, the organisations that "represent" us should be ashamed. First lead, now trophies, shooting is going the way of fox hunting but well done everyone pandering to masses, your sport is going to disappear

 

[Cranborne]

Easier than my Defra link:

BASC responds to Defra announcement on banning hunting trophies

Read our statement following the announcement by Defra’s that it is set to introduce an import ban on hunting trophies.

basc.org.uk

 

[willie_gunn]

This was reported on the BBC website this morning, see:

UK plan to ban animal trophies too slow - conservation groups

The government again promises a ban - but campaigners say it needs to set a date.

www.bbc.co.uk

The BBC report includes this from BASC:

"This decision is a triumph of propaganda over science, and prejudice over evidence," Christopher Graffius, from the British Association for Shooting and Conservation, told BBC News.

"What aid will the government give to replace income from hunting to seriously economically and environmentally challenged communities around the world?

"This ban will be bad for animals, people and the land they live on."

 

[Mick9abf]

This was reported on the BBC website this morning, see:

UK plan to ban animal trophies too slow - conservation groups

The government again promises a ban - but campaigners say it needs to set a date.

www.bbc.co.uk

The BBC report includes this from BASC:

Living in Scotland we are well used to the ‘Scottish Government’ ignoring the science, experts, people who it will impact on and pretty much everything else to appease or garner favour with individuals or groups, political or otherwise, with aligned interests who’s support is necessary to pass bills unrelated to the countryside and/or field sports or as in this case to deflect from other party politics.

 

[Woodsmoke]

The BBC report includes this from BASC:

"This ban will be bad for animals, people and the land they live on."

So it would appear that, rather than mobilise their resources and put up a counter-attack, yet again BASC feebly mumble some toothless protestations while actually doing sweet f*ck all

 

[willie_gunn]

So it would appear that, rather than mobilise their resources and put up a counter-attack, yet again BASC feebly mumble some toothless protestations while actually doing sweet f*ck all

BASC emailed their membership on multiple occasions, from back in 2019, and asked members to respond to the consultation.

Out if interest, what did the organisation you're a member of do?

 

[Cranborne]

So it would appear that, rather than mobilise their resources and put up a counter-attack, yet again BASC feebly mumble some toothless protestations while actually doing sweet f*ck all

BASC provided its members with a link to the consultation and suggested how to complete it. BASC also made a submission. I'll criticise BASC when I consider it has messed up, but in this instance I think it did a pretty good job. Only 4500 people supported any option other than a total ban......which suggests that most shooting people weren't really bothered.

 

[A Guy Out West]

Is big foot on the list?

 

[willie_gunn]

Trying to find what your actually looking for is like wading through ****ing treacle!!!

Still can’t find the CITES A+B list.

The official CITES list is kept here: Species+

You can download the lists by following the "Download Species Lists" link, but somewhat confusingly CITES uses Appendix I, II and III, whereas in EU and UK legislation we talk of Annex A, B, C and D.

The lists you download from the above site come as spreadsheets and do not contain "common" names, so you will find Panthera Leo rather than "Asiatic Lion", for example.

If you prefer looking through the common names then you might find an easier version to read here: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32019R2117&from=EN

I realise this is the EU site, but with Brexit we transferred the EU legislation into the UK law using the Control of Trade in Endangered Species Regulations 2018 (see https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2018/703/pdfs/uksiem_20180703_en.pdf), so the above site should still apply.

To understand the mapping between CITES Appendixes I, II, III and the EU/UK Annexes A, B, C and D, this table is useful (again, courtesy of the EU here):

Annex​
Annex A​	All CITES Appendix I-listed species, except where an EU Member State has entered a reservation. Some CITES Appendix II- and III-listed species, for which the EU has adopted stricter domestic measures. Some non-CITES-listed species.
Annex B​	All other CITES Appendix II-listed species, except where an EU Member State has entered a reservation. Some CITES Appendix III-listed species. Some non-CITES-listed species.
Annex C​	All other CITES Appendix III-listed species, except where an EU Member State has entered a reservation.
Annex D​	Some CITES Appendix III-listed species. Some non-CITES-listed species.

In addition to the above you need to consider that in the DEFRA response on trophy hunting they say they intend to also incorporate the IUCN Red List species. Getting hold of that is somewhat more complicated, and requires someone either more knowledgable or persistent than me to figure out the IUCN website!

If any of the above is incorrect I will readily raise my hand as having made a mistake - by all means feel free to correct as necessary.

 

[Gsd99]

BASC provided its members with a link to the consultation and suggested how to complete it. BASC also made a submission. I'll criticise BASC when I consider it has messed up, but in this instance I think it did a pretty good job. Only 4500 people supported any option other than a total ban......which suggests that most shooting people weren't really bothered.

Im not quite sure how you can consider basc did a pretty good job when the government is going with one of its most extreme options that were put forward. Judging by the defence provided on this topic, shooting in the UK is already doomed.
Josh