Woodcock hunting: Proposal for a Code of Ethics for the removal of woodcock abroad. Below is a full letter for the request for awareness on woodcock hunting during hunting trips abroad.
Since the migration of the Woodcock species Scolopax rusticola affects all the States of the European Community and numerous other non-EU countries, but falling within the Western Palearctic. Following recent studies that confirm the migration of the species to be conditioned by sudden climate changes, it is therefore necessary to review the concept that certain migratory flows remain faithful to the same wintering territories, verifying from our experience that the Balkans and the Mediterranean are the subject of a mix of populations whose post-nuptial migration shares are spread over different territories according to the climatic variations of the period.
Following numerous protests, especially of woodcockers and environmentalists, in front of photos of real Woodcock Safaris with dozens and sometimes hundreds of birds flaunted by Agencies and Tour operators, especially in Balkan and former USSR areas, as well as in the islands of Scotland and in the western areas of Ireland. Given the absence of withdrawal limits (PMA) in the legislation of the States relating to hunting grounds, and equally the absence of withdrawal limits in the offer of many hunting agencies.
Unfortunately noting that hunting offer dates are often contrary to the EU rules of opening and closing hunting, and that they can be detrimental to the population both during the period of reproduction and dependence, as in August in Russia and in some niches of the Scandinavian and Baltic countries (breeding areas), as in early spring on countries affected by pre-nuptial migration (Balkans). With the aim of raising awareness of the fragility of the status of the species and the need for a sustainable harvest on all the soils of the Western Palearctic where massacres of woodcocks can occur.
I QUESTION
- to hunters who go abroad
- hunting travel agencies and tour operators specialized in woodcock hunting,
to share the following code of ethics, called:
Code of Ethics for Woodcock Hunting Abroad
- to be signed by agencies and tour operators and to be signed by their hunter clients
CODE OF ETHICS
Woodcock hunting abroad
1- The woodcock is a natural heritage whose property belongs to all citizens, hunters and non-hunters, who live within the Western Palearctic
2- Community hunters who go abroad to hunt woodcock must behave as if they hunted with the rules and laws of their own countries, therefore under the prescription of Community law on the matter (Directives)
3- The ease of finding woodcocks in certain regions favored by a massive presence in the phases of migration or wintering, and by the absence of rules and controls, must not authorize illegitimate withdrawals which in many cases turn into Woodcock Safari with excessive withdrawals that fuel illegal trade
4- Very often the woodcocks hunted abroad are those that will subsequently reach the countries of origin of the traveling hunters; for this reason it is necessary to respect the withdrawal limits in force in their countries, thus respecting the rights of hunters who do not want and / or cannot travel
5- By adhering to this code of ethics, every hunter
- Must not take more than 3 woodcocks per day
- Avoid the hunt for the post office
- Do not illegally import woodcocks taken from countries where the export ban is in force and / or trade is prohibited
6- The hunting travel agency must not be a service of coercion of the rights of the species and must be aware of the delicacy of the species itself, ensuring a sustainable harvest in order to be able to maintain a sustainable commercial hunting
7- Hunting dates: the hunting travel agency / tour operator must not offer hunting days for woodcock before September on breeding sites (Russia, Scandinavia and the Baltics) in order to protect late-born juveniles. It must not offer hunting days beyond the month of February in order to protect pre-nuptial migration
8- The Agency / tour operator that accepts this FANBPO CODE OF ETHICS can use the "BEC VERT FANBPO" logo as a guarantee of sustainability and quality of its offer, thus indicating the precise will to ensure the future of the species
9- The hunting travel agency / tour operator with the Bec Vert Fanbpo stamp testifies to participation in the collection of statistical data with the protocols provided by the FANBPO (e.g. ICA values of the Cinegetic Index of Abundance, samples of wings for Age ratio, etc.) recognized by national and international organizations