Posted 10/8/08

Coalition Against Duck Shooting

URGENT - MESSAGE FOR ALL DUCK RESCUERS AND OTHERS

8/8/08

See Background below

Gippsland swans still need your help.

Unfortunately the circumstances have changed again – allowing swans to be shot.

The landowner who shot 40 swans has been denied a new permit and now must use non-lethal alternatives.

However, Gippsland DSE now says this does not necessarily apply to other landowners. They say they will continue issuing destruction permits.

Two permits to shoot swans had also been issued to other landowners. We were led to believe that these would also be cancelled but have had no confirmation of this.

We urgently need you to again express your opposition by sending an email to:

Ryan Incoll, Senior Biodiversity and Environmental Planning Manager at Traralgon, with copies to Gavin Jennings, Environment Minister; Paul Smith, Biodiversity Division, DSE; and Charles Franken, who issues the permits.

Email addresses:

To: Ryan.incoll@dse.vic.gov.au

Cc: gavin.jennings@parliament.vic.gov.au

        paul.smith@dse.vic.gov.au

        charles.franken@dse.vic.gov.au

Points for your email:

• Thank Ryan Incoll for denying the farmer’s request to shoot a further 20 swans. 
• Due to climate change and lack of water, many waterbird species across eastern Australia are at their lowest numbers in 23 years, including swans.
• There are alternatives to shooting such as swan distress calls, strobe lights, etc.
• To make non-lethal alternatives work, landowners must approach the task with a positive attitude. Most don’t bother because it is far too easy to obtain destruction permits.
• Permanent DSE staff must be employed to assist landowners in the use of non-lethal alternatives.
• The DSE culture of easily issuing destruction permits to landowners must change.
• With global warming and changing public awareness, DSE must encourage landowners to live with wildlife and adapt to non-lethal alternatives.
• Shooting is ineffectual as other birds simply fly in to replace those shot.

We believe DSE received over 100 emails from people opposing the destruction permits. For the sake of our swans, lets try to double it this time.

Laurie, Lynn & Dave.

PS

We have also learnt that DSE regional departments issued 271 permits to landowners to shoot 9647 Wood ducks between January 2006 and December 2007 (probably the vast majority of permits would have been issued in the Gippsland region). Yet Wood duck numbers are also extremely low across eastern Australia.

BACKGROUND

URGENT - HELP SAVE 40 BLACK SWANS

31/7/08

 Although Prof. Richard Kingsford's annual aerial surveys across eastern Australia show swan numbers are at an all time low, 40 swans have been shot in Gippsland (under permit) by a farmer attempting to protect his lucerne crop which is situated beside a wetland.  He now wants to shoot another 20 swans and the Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) will decide whether to issue a permit this Friday morning, August 1.

In this day and age not only is shooting totally unacceptable, but it is ineffectual as other birds simply fly in to replace those shot.  The whole permit system needs to change.

Please email Ryan Incoll (Biodiversity & Environmental Planning Manager at Traralgon):

ryan.incoll@dse.vic.gov.au

Phone:  03 5172 2111

and cc a copy to the Victorian Environment Minister, Gavin Jennings:

gavin.jennings@parliament.vic.gov.au  

Phone:  03 9096 8830

Ask that DSE takes a positive approach towards non-lethal controls such as swan distress calls and tethered dogs.  Mention that there should be permanent DSE staff employed to help landowners to use non-lethal alternatives to shooting, instead of the three Game Managers who are paid to assist hunters.

Please circulate this request widely.

Thanks for your help.

Laurie, Lynn and Dave.

A VICTORY FOR SWANS

1/8/08

Dear native waterbird supporters,

Many thanks for your fantastic response to the Gippsland swan shootings. 

We were backing up the great work done by local Gippsland groups and individuals to stop the slaughter.  Jill Redwood (Environment East Gippsland) and Bob McDonald (environmentalist and journalist) were the main players to stop the swan shootings on Gippsland farms.

Minister Gavin Jennings today put a stop to the shootings and the government will be financing non-lethal alternatives in the future.

Once again - it was a great team effort which paid off.

Laurie, Lynn and Dave.