Full SACS and Findhorn Wildfowling & Conservation Association Statement:

https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/moray/1492231/cash-strapped-moray-council-to-appoint-mediator-to-bring-an-end-to-geese-shooting-dispute/

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-44382885

"Wildfowling is an ancient and conservation-led harvesting activity involving the sustainable harvesting of overabundant wild geese. Without this harvest, goose numbers increase to the point where the environment becomes damaged from over-grazing”.

Whilst the vast majority of wildfowlers visiting Findhorn Bay are responsible and community-minded, bringing in much-needed off-season income, a small number of wildfowlers have behaved in a manner outwith recognised best practice. This is not acceptable. Unfortunately, matters have not been helped by harassment of wildfowlers by a small number of radicalised anti-shooters who have obstructed lawful activity and disseminated false information. Despite endless accusations from anti-shooters and constant calls to the police, it is interesting to note that last season only the anti-shooting side received a police warning.

An earlier genuine attempt at mediation was scuppered by the behaviour of Findhorn Bay Local Nature Reserve (LNR) representatives and Moray Council who, despite dedicated input from wildfowling representatives, side-lined decisions agreed within mediation and secretly pursued their own version of a voluntary permitting scheme without wildfowler support. Not only was a long-established local community of interest side-lined, but wildfowlers were not even given the simple courtesy of being informed by Moray Council and the LNR of the permit launch and knew nothing of it until a subsequent approach from the Press & Journal. At what point did it seem a good idea to disenfranchise the very people necessary to make a voluntary permit scheme work?

As a consequence, the 2017 permit scheme has been an abject failure. Of those 23 that did apply, most were unaware of the background and may not be reapplying this year. Further, wildfowlers have yet to receive any reply to concerns made in writing to Moray Council in August 2017 after the permit scheme launch. And to compound the negativity, we are aware of deplorable and unprofessional private comments made by local councillors, which in no way helps toward a resolution. In an apparently community-minded and locally-engaged modern Scotland, this is an astonishing way for a local authority or public body to behave towards a community group.

Throughout the previous mediation process, wildfowlers have conducted themselves with courtesy and respect for other parties around the table and have engaged in positive discussion towards a solution. Importantly, it was wildfowlers who came up with the idea of a voluntary permit scheme as a short-term fix, before it was hijacked by an anti-shooting agenda. Yet, despite wildfowlers' best efforts, mediation has been derailed by the conduct of Moray Council and the LNR. Trust is low and, from our perspective, like the LNR, Moray Council is part of the problem, not the solution.

Moray Council and the LNR must take full responsibility for the fiasco they have created, and make a genuine effort to bring parties together again. As the reasonable party in discussions and conduct, wildfowlers remain ready to do their part."

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