Legalities of shooting at sea

[StephenToast]

but what makes you say that? I know i had to apply for licences and a quick phone call to people still doing it told me nothing has changed.

It is not illegal to shoot from a motor vessel. That's what makes me say that.

 

[User00048]

1000s of people lamp foxes from 4x4's.. a land rover does be a motor vessel..when it works..

 

[User00048]

in fairness I think people answering re wildfowling are answering at cross purposes as the thread has taken a tangent. Your first post.



Is incorrect. It is not illegal to shoot anything alive from a motor vessel at all.

Here is the legislation governing the activity...

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1981/69

And I found some guidance in the BASC website that puts it in simpler terms.

Can I chase Canada geese on water in my boat? - BASC

B Can I chase Canada geese on water in my boat? This depends on whether the boat is under power or not. If an engine is being used, then this would be an offence under Read more…

basc.org.uk

You can shoot wildfowl from a motor boat perfectly legally in the UK. You cannot use the engine in direct pursuit of the wildfowl.

I.e. If the boat is stationary and the engine is off, or if the boat is at anchor, pushed into a dry creek etc etc. You are acting legally.

Perhaps you ought to study the matter in more detail before posting on a subject that you know less than the asker?

Jokes aside, these are definitely the best links for people to be looking at when it comes the legality of shooting from motor vehicles. Fine if off. Same applies to deer in England, stationary, engine off, fine.
I always thought this was common knowledge.
The problem with the publishing of books etc can be numerous, such as out of date information or opinion being portrayed as fact etc etc. Best sources are always Gov, HO and the legislative dept of your chosen shooting association.

 

[8x57]

The original question was far too vague, and there could be several possible correct answers.
The poster can't have been that interested as he was last on the site in 2017.

 

[StephenToast]

Jokes aside, these are definitely the best links for people to be looking at when it comes the legality of shooting from motor vehicles. Fine if off. Same applies to deer in England, stationary, engine off, fine.
I always thought this was common knowledge.
The problem with the publishing of books etc can be numerous, such as out of date information or opinion being portrayed as fact etc etc. Best sources are always Gov, HO and the legislative dept of your chosen shooting association.

I just liked the irony in @levigsp having a go at people on here for giving false information while at the same time, giving false information.

 

[levigsp]

It is not illegal to shoot from a motor vessel. That's what makes me say that.

It is not illegal to shoot from a motor vessel. That's what makes me say that.

You are taking my answer out of context deliberately to cause argument. the question was " Has anyone any knowledge of the legalities of shooting at sea from a fishing boat close to land and inshore waters." My answer was correct and i will explain why. to shoot anywhere in the uk you need the permission from the holder of the shooting rights, in the case of uk waters out to their limits with international waters, those rights belong to HMQ. She give permission to various bodies to issue permits for shooting in certain places and times. Harbour offices, coast guard's etc are the places to enquire. Now I state here that 100% certainty you cannot simply sail out to see and use a shotgun or firearm without the relevant paperwork. In tidal estuaries you can use a rowing boat or a motor boat, but it has to be stationary and the motor cannot be in contact with the water, something most wildfowlers tend to forget as do BASC when the advise. I am not going to comment further because as is often the case, people simply try to bend rules or make them up to suit themselves for their own gain.

 

[Slaughtermanste]

Please forgive me if I've missed something but what exactly would you be shooting at sea with a firearm?

 

[iain b]

I'm not sure if this is absolutely correct but I was informed that maritime legislation forbidding most boats and ships from dumping or putting anything into the sea was the reason that clay pigeon shooting was stopped on cruise ships even though some had already gone over to laser shooting, not just for reasons of security (preventing passengers having access to live firearms). It would seem that clay pigeons although dissolvable were a risk to the marine environment.

Ironic really if it is true, as governments have deep sixed millions of tons of munitions and even radioactive waste in the ocean over the years.

Not to mention sarin, mustard gas, phosgene Robert Maxwell.

 

[StephenToast]

You are taking my answer out of context deliberately to cause argument. the question was " Has anyone any knowledge of the legalities of shooting at sea from a fishing boat close to land and inshore waters." My answer was correct and i will explain why. to shoot anywhere in the uk you need the permission from the holder of the shooting rights, in the case of uk waters out to their limits with international waters, those rights belong to HMQ. She give permission to various bodies to issue permits for shooting in certain places and times. Harbour offices, coast guard's etc are the places to enquire. Now I state here that 100% certainty you cannot simply sail out to see and use a shotgun or firearm without the relevant paperwork. In tidal estuaries you can use a rowing boat or a motor boat, but it has to be stationary and the motor cannot be in contact with the water, something most wildfowlers tend to forget as do BASC when the advise. I am not going to comment further because as is often the case, people simply try

to bend rules or make them up to suit themselves for their own gain.

Don't backtrack.

"It is illegal to shoot anything alive from a motor vessel full stop."

Nothing out of context there.

You were wrong, and then you went on to have a go at people for being wrong.

You're also wrong in your post above.

"The motor cannot be in contact with the water." Nowhere in the legislation is this stated. You've made that up.

 

[mack8317]

Don't backtrack.

"It is illegal to shoot anything alive from a motor vessel full stop."

Nothing out of context there.

You were wrong, and then you went on to have a go at people for being wrong.

You're also wrong in your post above.

"The motor cannot be in contact with the water." Nowhere in the legislation is this stated. You've made that up.

seal management in scotland from a boat useing any deer legal calibre is legal if you comply with reccomended practice

 

[JTO]

"You cannot use a motorised boat/vessel in the 'immediate' persute of wildfowl." I think that is how the 1954 Act is/was worded.

 

[Wilbur]

I remember back in the 1980,s the warden on loch leven telling us it is illegal to discharge a firearm or shotgun from a motorised vehicle and that includes a boat,and regarding lamping youre supposed to have a license to carry that out which is given from the snh whether that applies to Britain as a whole or only Scotland I don’t know,w

 

[foxdropper]

Well ,that’s cleared that up then

 

[8x57]

I remember back in the 1980,s the warden on loch leven telling us it is illegal to discharge a firearm or shotgun from a motorised vehicle and that includes a boat,and regarding lamping youre supposed to have a license to carry that out which is given from the snh whether that applies to Britain as a whole or only Scotland I don’t know,w

The warden seems to have very much over simplified it in both instances Wilbur.

 

[StephenToast]

The warden seems to have very much over simplified it in both instances Wilbur.

To be fair. The Wildlife and Countryside act was only brought in in 1981. There are still people in 2021 who obviously don't understand it and it's forty years old. I could cut the warden a bit of slack.

 

[Heym SR20]

Go and read the wild life and countryside act - the answers will be in there. Have a look under prohibitions.

Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981

An Act to repeal and re-enact with amendments the Protection of Birds Acts 1954 to 1967 and the Conservation of Wild Creatures and Wild Plants Act 1975; to prohibit certain methods of killing or taking wild animals; to amend the law relating to protection of certain mammals; to restrict the...

www.legislation.gov.uk