water vole protection

Jo Pedder · #1 (**permalink**) 18-01-2006, 11:33 AM

Hi guys

last year (Jan 05) DEFRA launched a consultation document into changes in the scheduling of some species under the wildlife and countryside act. it was proposed to offer greater protection to spiny sea horses, rays, two burnet moths and the water vole.

does anyone know what has happened since? - I’ve heard that water voles now receive full protection under the act, like great crested newts, but I can't find any reference to this having actually happened yet.

any ideas?

kerfoot · #2 (**permalink**) 18-01-2006, 12:12 PM

Hi Jo, this was something that a colleauge and myself looked in to just before christmas.
We spoke to someone at JNCC and they told us that as yet nothing has changed and that DEFRA are still sitting on it and they didn't know when a decision would be made.
I wonder if any one else knows a bit more.
You would hope that if the water vole did get full protection it would be a publicised event-but who knows!

Mark43 · #3 (**permalink**) 18-01-2006, 05:28 PM

Hey it's only been a year...........you can't expect a government department to move that quickly surely

pheonix · #4 (**permalink**) 18-01-2006, 05:52 PM

i hear things are steadily moving in the right direction though.

Mark43 · #5 (**permalink**) 18-01-2006, 06:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pheonix

i hear things are steadily moving in the right direction though.

I suppose you are right...........slowl but steady is better than nothing at all.

Jo Pedder · #6 (**permalink**) 26-01-2006, 12:43 PM

I've been in touch with DEFRA, and they say that as of yet, there has been no progress on changing the scheduling, but they assured me that it would be well published when it does happen, and to keep checking the website.

My feeling is that the change is delayed because of the other species that were planned to be added to the protect list - which includes 3 species of ray. Protecting these would have implications for the fishery industry, who are powerful lobbyists, so it might be a long wait before we see progress.

pheonix · #7 (**permalink**) 26-01-2006, 03:40 PM

someone has recently been prosecuted against because of damage to watervole habitat - see www.defra.gov.uk/paw

Jo Pedder · #8 (**permalink**) 26-01-2006, 04:40 PM

I read about a recent case of a farmer being prosecuted for management works to a drainage ditch - it was a first test case for the 'recklessly' causing damage update to legislation.