Open petition: Add fish-eating birds to Schedule 2.1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981

Created by Tim Weston
Closes on 26 December 2026

Amend Schedule 2.1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 to list cormorants, goosanders and red-breasted mergansers that they may be managed, enabling proportionate control to protect inland fisheries and migratory fish populations where serious damage is evidenced.

Evidence points to Atlantic salmon being at crisis point — around 90% of principal salmon rivers in England are now classified as at risk, and declared catches are at their lowest since records began. Millions invested in river restoration are being undermined by predation. Course fisheries are also under threat.

We believe Natural England licensing is too slow for fisheries managers to respond effectively. Adding these species to Schedule 2.1 will in our view enable targeted, evidence-based management to protect inland fish stocks.

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