Issue remains unresolved

A PETITION against wildfowling in Findhorn Bay Local Nature Reserve has been rejected by Moray Councillors by eight to two votes.

However, mediators Findhorn Bay Local Nature Reserve (LNR) Committee are hopeful that environmentalists Friends of Findhorn Bay and the British Association for Shooting and Conservation Scotland (BACS) can still come to an agreement about the issue.

Chairman of the local authority’s Economic Development and Infrastructure Committee, councillor Graham Leadbitter confirmed that the petition was lodged by Friends of Findhorn Bay in December 2015.

He said: "Time and effort from council staff and external bodies had gone in to try and find a resolution. There’s a limit to how long we can continue to support that process and still deliver other priorities.

"Councillors rejected the petition as we can’t dedicate any more resources to this. We accept that the groups involved may continue with the process and reach a decision, agreed by all parties."

Findhorn Bay is an internationally recognised site for overwintering birds, some of which are now red-listed under the British Trust for Ornithology’s Birds of Conservation Concern effort.

Wildfowling has long been practised around the Bay, generating local income, but internet-based communications and access has resulted in an increase in numbers visiting from outwith the area.

Local population growth and changing attitudes in society have led to protests and petitions, both for and against shooting.

In July, Moray Council withdrew support for a wildfowling permit scheme at Findhorn Bay when it became apparent that just 23 permits were applied for during the arrangement, out of an estimated 100 local wildfowlers

Mediation, a precursor to the voluntary permit scheme to be operated this season (September to February) which the council agreed to last June, began last autumn but a final agreement could not be reached between all of the interested parties. The unresolved process cost the taxpayer £9000.

It is now up to the interested parties to work together to reach an agreement which could be considered by the council in the future.

Cllr Claire Feaver (Forres) wants a more sustainable and wildlife-friendly approach to the management of the reserve.

She said: "I am disappointed that a number of elected representatives chose to ignore the efforts of groups over the last year to come to three options that could be presented for community engagement.

"This rejection by the committee means that residents who live adjacent to the Bay have another season of disturbance to look forward to, with little regard being paid to their quality of life.

"I remain keen to see a fair resolution but the council’s decision is not helpful."

The options mooted, but rejected, by the Economic Development and Infrastructure Committee were: no wildfowling apart from in the rest of the reserve on Thursday, Friday and Saturday; local wildfowling clubs only in the rest of the reserve on Wednesday and Saturdays, all wildfowlers in the rest of the reserve on Thursdays and Fridays; no wildfowling in the south-east corner at any time but OK in the rest of the reserve on Monays; wildfowling in the rest of the reserve on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday; local clubs only in the rest of the reserve on Wednesday and Saturday; and no wildfowling on Sunday.

Cllr Feaver pointed out that wildfowlers have acknowledged that they should should pick up after themselves and others if they see litter following concern about plastic waste going out into the Bay from cartridges and wads.

She added: "This is the first year that we have had all wildfowling groups agreeing that things have to change due to past bad practice."

BACS director, Dr Colin Shedden, is committed to working to reach agreement over the sustainable and long-term future for wildfowling at Findhorn, having tried to find resolution over the last three years..

He said: "We will continue this work through the LNR, of which we are a member. We would also advise anyone planning to shoot this season to abide by BASC’s wildfowling code of practice and the voluntary restrictions that have been put forward by our affiliated club, Forres, Nairn and District Wildfowlers."

Meanwhile, Friends of Findhorn are disappointed that the issue has not been resolved, arguing that Moray Council has left the people of Kinloss and Findhorn to sort out the issue themselves.

Lead petitioner, Lisa Mead, said: "I really don’t understand how the council can just wash its hands of an issue for which it bears responsibility, as statutory manager of the Findhorn Bay Local Nature Reserve?

"I am concerned as to what will now unfold, as local people who are very angry about the shooting are likely to take matters into their own hands, now that the Council has so abjectly failed them."

A Friends spokesperson added: "It is very frustrating that the council has allowed itself to be held hostage by the various shooting groups, whose desires have been promoted over and above the interests of local people and conservationists. This has ultimately defeated the efforts of so many people, who really wanted to find a sensible solution to the problem of shooting on Findhorn Bay."